Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on behalf of the European Commission
18.1.2021
The EU has reaffirmed on many occasions, and most recently at the European Council on 15-16 October 2020[1], its full support to and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, reiterating that the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of EU Member States must be respected.
On the Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea, the European Council stated[2] on 12 December 2019 that it ‘infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States’.
As regards Cyprus, and in response to Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Council adopted a framework for restrictive measures on 11 November 2019[3], and it imposed on 27 February 2020 a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze on two persons. On 10 December 2020, the European Council[4], in line with its conclusions of 1 October 2020[5], invited the Council to adopt additional listings in the context of the abovementioned sanctions regime.
In addition, the European Council invited the High Representative and the Commission to submit a report on EU-Turkey relations and on instruments and options on how to proceed, including on the extension of the scope of the abovementioned regime, for consideration at the latest at the March 2021 European Council.
The EU has a strategic interest in the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. The offer of a positive EU-Turkey agenda remains on the table, provided Turkey shows readiness to promote a genuine partnership with the Union and its Member States and to resolve differences through dialogue and in accordance with international law.
- [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/46341/1516-10-20-euco-conclusions-en.pdf
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/41768/12-euco-final-conclusions-en.pdf
- [3] Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1894 of 11 November 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of Turkey's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean (OJ L 291 12.11.2019, p. 47), and Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1890 of 11 November 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean (OJ L 291 12.11.2019, p. 3).
- [4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/47296/1011-12-20-euco-conclusions-en.pdf
- [5] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/45910/021020-euco-final-conclusions.pdf