EU to hit Turkey with more sanctions over its Mediterranean gas exploration

European Union leaders early Friday gave the green light for the expansion of sanctions against Turkey over its exploration of gas reserves in Mediterranean waters claimed by EU members Greece and Cyprus.

Regrettably, Turkey has engaged in unilateral actions and provocations and escalated its rhetoric against the EU, EU member states and European leaders, they said in a statement from their summit in Brussels.

At their last summit in October, the leaders offered a positive political EU-Turkey agenda to Ankara, including trade and customs benefits and the prospect of more funds to help Turkey manage Syrian refugees on its territory if it halts its illegal activities in the eastern Mediterranean.