The European Union is ready to impose sanctions on Ankara, said European Council President Charles Michel.
“We extended the helping hand to Turkey in October and our assessment is negative after having observed that the unilateral actions and hostile rhetoric continue. We will have a debate during the European summit on December 10 and we are ready to use the means at our disposal to impose sanctions,” said Charles Michel at a press conference.
“I think that the cat and mouse game needs to end,” he warned.
“If Ankara continues its illegal actions, we will use all the means at our disposal,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned during the October European summit. At the time, the European Union had made an offer of opening to Ankara accompanied by a threat if Turkey did not stop its actions, which had already been condemned by the EU. The decision then was to examine the situation at the December European summit.
The president of the European Commission had stated in October that the Commission was in charge of drafting financial sanctions list and that they were ready to enter into force.
To impose sanctions, a unanimous approval is needed. However, Germany has so far blocked sanctions against Ankara in the hope of reaching an agreement “to develop constructive relations with Turkey.”
Source: ANA-MPA
