VP/HR — Acts of provocation by Turkey and encroachments on Greek and Cypriot (European) borders

18.9.2019

Question for written answer P-002855-19
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 138
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

The fundamental objective of the European Union is to safeguard its security and territorial integrity[1], requiring it to defend the peace, security and territorial integrity of its Member States within the framework of the CFSP.

Turkish encroachments on the national territories of two EU Member States, that is to say Greece and Cyprus, are now coming to a head. Following developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, with Turkey's continued infringements of international law and its flagrant disregard for the legal rights and sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus and hence the European Union, the risk of relations between Member States and a third country being strained to flashpoint is now undeniable.

In view of this:

Can the High Representative say what immediate measures the EU will take to uphold peace and security in this area, safeguard the rights of Greece and Cyprus and steadfastly defend their borders and, by extension, the EU's external borders?

Will the EU impose additional sanctions on Turkey or take specific action against it in response to its acts of provocation? If so, what form will they take and when will they be initiated?

• [1] (Article 21 TEU).