The EU27 Foreign Affairs Ministers stand in solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and call for de-escalation in the East Med, and dialogue with Turkey, according to the official readout of the FAC extraordinary teleconference, published by EEAS, the European External Action Service presided by HRVP Josep Borrell.

More specifically according to the readout, “the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, convened on Friday 14 August a video conference meeting with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 27 EU Member States. The aim of the discussions was to address the pressing situations in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Belarus after the August 9 Presidential Elections. The Ministers also discussed the situation in Lebanon, Venezuela and Bolivia.”

“The High Representative will remain in constant contact with the Ministers on these and other issues in the coming weeks, ahead of the informal Foreign Affairs Council (‘Gymnich’), which will take place on 27-28 August in Berlin”, EEAS notes.

“The Ministers discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, following a grave deterioration of the security situation in recent days. Three words reflect the outcome of the discussion: solidarity, de-escalation, and dialogue”, according to the EEAS readout.

“Ministers reaffirmed the EU’s full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. They reiterated that sovereign rights of EU Member States must be respected. They recalled EU common positions and the previous Council Conclusions of 22 March 2018 and June, July, October, December 2019, in addition to the Statement on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean of 15 May 2020”, EEAS notes.

“At the same time, Ministers stressed that the serious deterioration in the relationship with Turkey is having far-reaching strategic consequences for the entire EU, well beyond the Eastern Mediterranean”, EEAS notes.

“Ministers stressed in particular that recent naval mobilisations by Turkey do not contribute to finding any solutions. On the contrary, they will lead to greater antagonism and distrust. They create a heightened risk of dangerous incidents. Immediate de-escalation by Turkey was considered crucial.”

“Ministers recalled the importance they attach to relations with Turkey. They underlined that issues related to delimitation of maritime boundaries and exploitation of resources therein can only be addressed through dialogue and negotiation, in good faith, in accordance with international law and in pursuit of the principle of good neighbourly relations, and not through unilateral actions and the mobilisation of naval forces”, EEAS states in the readout of the FAC teleconference.

Finally “Ministers recalled the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council of 13 July. They reiterated strong support for the High Representative’s efforts to re-establish dialogue and facilitate re-engagement with Turkey. At the same time, the High Representative/Vice-President is to prepare options on further appropriate measures in case tensions do not abate.
A broader discussion about relations with Turkey will be held later in August, at the Gymnich.”