For the Time Being the EU Will Refrain From New Sanctions for Turkey

The European Union is holding further sanctions against the Turkish state oil company’s leaders for the time being.

 

Relations with the Ankara government have improved in recent months, EU sources say.

EU countries such as Greece, Cyprus and France have been pushing for new punitive measures against Turkey for some time now. In December, when Ankara’s relations reached an all-time low, they received a hearing from the other Member States.

Turkey continued to search for gas in disputed waters, and Turkish President Erdogan argued with his French counterpart Macron, among others. Sanctions were in the works, which EU leaders would address next week.

But since then, Ankara has taken a completely different tone, and, after years, Greece and Turkey are once again in direct talks about their differences.

That is why the plans for new sanctions will be shelved for the time being, and insiders tell Reuters news agency. Even though “Turkey still has a lot to do before a truly positive relationship is possible again,” said an EU source.