EU leaders at the European Council meeting on December 10, 2020.
European Union leaders agreed on the conclusions regarding Turkey at the summit in Brussels.
The third draft of conclusions, according to Politico, includes new language on migration and Cyprus.
In particular, it "calls on Turkey for responsible management of migration flows and to step up efforts in the fight against migrant smuggler networks."
The language of sanctions remains the same with a few changes, such as calling on foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to assess the situation "in the region" and not just "in the Eastern Mediterranean" in order to decide on the next steps.
His report would also have to include “the functioning of the Customs Union” between the EU and Turkey.
It also makes clear that the European Council remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem” and “it expects the same of Turkey.”
“It is at a minimum paradoxical that as the United States is preparing to impose sanctions on Turkey, a NATO member, EUCO is still mired in ifs and buts,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said according to diplomatic sources cited by Politico.
As reported by GCT earlier, upon Kyriakos Mitsotakis' arrival at the EU Summit in Brussels, he used the Latin phrase “Pacta sunt servanda” (agreements must be kept).
This was in reference to the sanctions EU leaders threatened Turkey if it continued its provocative actions against Greece and Cyprus.
"The stakes are very, very clear, the credibility of the European Union. At the October European Council, we decided that there would be consequences if Turkey continued its delinquent behaviour," he said.
"And we agreed that the decision-making date would be this European Council. now, it will be seen if we as Europe really are credible in what we ourselves have agreed. Pacta sunt servanda," he concluded.
