Strict message from Brussels to Ankara
A strict reference to Turkey is included in the draft conclusions of the European Summit which will take place on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
Based on a relevant excerpt of a draft statement, which Kathimerini had the chance to examine, the 27 European Union member-states are once again calling on Ankara to respect international law and proceed with de-escalation moves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In particular, the excerpt says the European Council expresses deep concern over the repeated recent actions and statements by Turkey.
It said that Turkey must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all EU member-states. Recalling its previous conclusions and the declaration of March 25, 2021, the European Council said it expects Turkey to fully respect international law, to de-escalate tensions in the service of regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and to promote good-neighborly relations in a sustainable way.
According to reports, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will raise the issue of Turkey’s recent provocations, as did Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Tuesday at the Foreign Affairs Council and the extraordinary summit on May 30-31.
However, Greece is not seeking to raise the tone in its statements as it awaits Ankara’s reactions and whether the de-escalation intentions expressed at the recent meeting of NATO defense ministers by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar will be implemented.
Meanwhile all indications are that the European Council will approve the granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.
According to Bloomberg, at the meeting of the ambassadors of the member-states (Coreper) on Monday, no country objected to the relevant proposal of the European Commission.
On Tuesday, in fact, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who had described him as his political opponent in the recent Hungarian elections. Orban assured Zelenskyy that Hungary would support Ukraine’s symbolic first step on the road to EU membership.
