Europe unifies to condemn Turkey

The European Union is preparing to condemn Turkey in the strongest yet language over its ‘continued illegal actions’ following the Euro Council meeting on Thursday.

According to the draft conclusions of the meeting, European leaders will refer to Turkey’s illegal activity in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, while expressing full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus.

On Thursday EU leaders discussed Turkey's actions during the summit dinner, where Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades briefed their EU counterparts on Turkey's provocative stance in the Aegean and Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone.

According to sources, European leaders are in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, while expressing full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, preparing to send a strong message to Ankara ahead of the EU-Turkey leaders' summit in Varna on March 26, when European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The European Council started off Thursday afternoon with a discussion on trade and the steel and aluminium import tariffs announced by the United States. EU leaders are expected to back proposals for "reasonable" countermeasures proposed by the European Commission.

Discussion on Russia followed with UK Prime Minister Theresa May briefing her counterparts on the investigation underway concerning the Salisbury attack. European leaders are expected to express full solidarity and support for the UK, as well as their readiness to coordinate the measures that must be taken against Russia, but stop short of imposing sanctions.