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EU to sanction Turkey over gas-drilling activities

At a summit in Brussels Thursday, European leaders appeared ready to impose sanctions on Turkish individuals and companies linked to energy-prospecting activities in the eastern Mediterranean Sea that have raised regional tensions over the last year.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (1st-L) and EU leaders observe a minute silent in tribute to late French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing prior to a round table meeting during an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, on December 10, 2020. - European Union leaders meet for a year-end summit that will address anything from climate, sanctions against Turkey to budget and virus recovery plans. Brexit will be discussed on the sidelines. (Photo by Olivier Matthys / PO

ISTANBUL — European leaders were expected to approve sanctions on Turkey during a European Council summit Thursday, in which bloc members appeared ready to agree on punitive measures regarding Ankara’s energy-prospecting activities in contested parts of the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

According to a draft statement seen by Reuters, the sanctions will likely be imposed on individuals and companies linked to gas drilling activities near Greece and Cyprus that have raised regional tensions over the last year.

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