EU extends eastern Mediterranean sanctions on Türkiye

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The European Council has announced that it has prolonged the sanctions on Türkiye over its hydrocarbon exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean.

The sanctions will remain in place until November 13, 2023, the council announced yesterday (November 8).

"The European Union will therefore maintain its ability to impose targeted restrictive measures on persons or entities responsible for or involved in unauthorized drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean," it said.

The sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons, and an asset freeze for entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.

Currently, two individuals are subject to sanctions.

The activities of Türkiye's drillships led to a dispute with Southern Cyprus and Greece, as well as the EU.

The bloc imposed the sanctions first in October 2019, "reaffirming its full solidarity with Cyprus regarding respect for its sovereignty and sovereign rights." (SD/VK)