EU Foreign Affairs Council to consider possible ‘options’ against Turkey over Varosha

The possible “options”, in response to the EU’s Turkish unilateral action in Varos, will be considered by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday (December 13th) in Brussels.

The draft so-called “option paper” to be considered by EU foreign ministers includes possible legal and policy measures.

The draft was discussed late in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 8, at the meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States (COREPER), in view of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers. According to reports so far, the options include a cut in funding for Turkey by the European Investment Bank (EIB) or pre-accession funds, a possible freeze on high-level dialogue and targeted sanctions against those responsible for the actions in Varos. It is also expected that there will be a report on the need to resume talks on the Cyprus issue and a call for dialogue on gas and energy cooperation in the context of the green transition.

According to the agenda of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, the issue of Varos will be discussed in the section on current affairs, during which Ministers will be briefed on developments in Belarus, Varos and Ethiopia.

The foreign ministers will also discuss EU-Africa relations, relations with Central Asian countries and the Venezuelan elections.

Source: AMPE