Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s provocations — together with saying Emmanuel Macron wants “psychological remedy” — have angered the EU and will result in punitive motion, the European Fee warned on Monday.
Erdoğan’s insults towards the French president — tied to Macron’s response to the beheading of a instructor in a Paris suburb earlier this month — drew swift condemnation from EU leaders on Sunday. However Turkey has additionally continued to exacerbate tensions over fuel exploration in a disputed space of the Japanese Mediterranean, elevating the prospect of a critical diplomatic breach, and even EU sanctions, officers mentioned.
In a press release on Sunday, the Turkish International Ministry accused France of making the latest tensions and complained of the “continued one-sided and selfish approaches of France” and of “the West’s ordinary double requirements” in its protection of cartoons offensive to Muslims below the umbrella of free expression.
At a summit earlier this month, EU heads of state and authorities issued conclusions expressing the potential for launching “a optimistic political EU-Turkey agenda” but additionally warned that “in case of renewed unilateral actions or provocations in breach of worldwide regulation, the EU will use all of the devices and the choices at its disposal,” an unmistakable reference to sanctions.
On Saturday, Turkey successfully thumbed its nostril at that warning, by asserting plans to increase a controversial fuel exploration mission within the Mediterranean at the least till November 4.
Requested concerning the strains with Turkey, a Fee spokesman, Peter Spano, mentioned: “We’ve expectations of Turkey if we’re to proceed in a optimistic area with our relationship. Nonetheless if we carry on getting these provocations, if we maintain getting stress with the European Union or members of the European Union, we should suppose a bit of extra significantly about what we’re going to do.”
Leaders mentioned they might return to the Turkey challenge and decide at their summit in December, however some officers, particularly from Greece and Cyprus, have made clear their view that pointed motion is required.
Council President Charles Michel, responding to Erdoğan’s feedback on Sunday night time, tweeted: “Somewhat than a optimistic agenda, Turkey chooses provocations, unilateral actions within the Mediterranean and now insults. It’s insupportable.”
David McAllister, a German member of the European Parliament who’s chairman of the International Affairs Committee, mentioned the EU would act if Ankara didn’t cease its incendiary actions and feedback. “Sadly, the Turkish authorities isn’t taking concrete steps to de-escalate the present scenario,” McAllister mentioned. “Any type of provocations are unacceptable and should be stopped instantly. Because the European Union, we stand united by our member states. The European Parliament has requested the Council to face prepared to attract up an inventory of additional restrictive measures if no substantial progress is made in cooperation with Turkey.”
Maïa de La Baume and Jacopo Barigazzi contributed reporting.
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