On July 15, 2019, European Union foreign ministers posed sanctions on Turkey over its gas drilling activities in the waters of EU member Cyprus. Previously, EU ministers warned Turkey against the drilling and the consequences that such actions would have on EU-Turkey relations. In response, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that his country would speed up drilling activities off Cyprus if the EU moves ahead with sanctions. The sanctions come as an answer to Turkey's "continued and new illegal drilling activities." This refers to the revision on the European Investment Bank's loan to the country and suspension on an air transport agreement between the two partners. The proposed sanctions include an additional reduction of EU pre-accession assistance to Turkey for 2020 by €145.8 million.
Turkey does not recognize Cyprus as a state and claims 44% of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone as its own. Turkish Cypriots claim another 25%. In a response to the situation, Cyprus' Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades will chair a meeting of political leaders to discuss a renewed proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to establish a joint committee with Greek Cypriots on managing offshore gas drilling activities.
