EU Prepares Another Sanction Against Turkey: Details from 'Yeni Şafak'

Turkish media reports suggest that the European Union is preparing to impose another sanction against Turkey. According to 'Armenpress', the news outlet 'Yeni Şafak' states that the new sanction is again linked to Turkey's drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean region. These decisions clearly indicate that the EU considers Turkey's actions in areas belonging to Greece and Cyprus, as outlined in the Sevilla map, to be illegal.

The EU has extended sanctions against Mehmet Ferruh Akal, a member and vice-chairman of Turkey's oil company, and Ali Joşkun Namoğlu, deputy director of the company's Exploration Division, for an additional year due to Turkey's drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean region. The European Council has announced that the sanctions will remain in effect until November 12, 2021. The two individuals are banned from entering EU countries, and their assets have been frozen. Furthermore, the EU prohibits both individuals and entities from providing funds to those listed.

In July 2019, the EU imposed sanctions on Turkey due to drilling in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone. Additionally, the EU has introduced financial restrictive measures against Ankara, reducing the aid allocated to Turkey in 2020 (subsidies given during the accession negotiations with the EU), and has suggested that the European Investment Bank reconsider its lending activities in the country, particularly regarding sovereign guaranteed financing.