Turkey reacted angrily on Friday after the European Union threatened to impose sanctions on Ankara over "provocations and pressures" in a row with Greece over energy. In a press statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said: "The continued use of the language of sanctions is unconstructive." "The EU must now understand it will get nowhere with such discourse." In a strong warning to Turkey earlier on Friday, European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen said: "We want a positive and constructive relationship with Turkey, and this would also be very much in Ankara's interest." "But it will only work if the provocations and pressures stop. We, therefore, expect that Turkey from now on abstains from unilateral actions," von der Leyen said. "In case of such renewed actions by Ankara, the EU will use all its instruments and options available. We have a toolbox that we can apply immediately." The EU warning comes amid growing calls within the 27-nation bloc to take a tougher stance against Turkey over its aggressive actions in the East Mediterranean. Earlier, Turkey and Greece set up a military hotline to try to reduce the risk of clashes in the region. Tensions rose earlier this year when Turkey sent a ship into a disputed area to search for potentially rich oil and gas deposits. After their late-night meeting, EU members agreed to review Turkey's behavior in December and impose sanctions if "provocations" had not stopped. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, posting on Twitter after the meeting, said: "The EU issues a clear threat of sanctions against Turkey should it continue to violate international law." European Council President Charles Michel said the EU was offering Turkey closer relations on trade and other areas, but holding out the threat of sanctions if tensions in the Mediterranean did not de-escalate. "We very much want to give political dialogue a chance to move toward greater stability," he said. Arriving for the second day of the EU summit in Brussels, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the EU had sent "a message of unity, solidarity, and determination" to Ankara, which made clear the consequences of its "aggressive behavior". — Agencies
