Giannis Maniatis urges EU action on Turkish gas pipeline plans

European Parliament Member Giannis Maniatis has submitted an urgent question to EU High Representative Kaja Kallas regarding Turkey's planned activities in the Mediterranean. The move follows reports that Ankara intends to begin drilling surveys for a gas pipeline connecting Turkey to the occupied areas of Cyprus using the research vessel ‘Oruç Reis’, escorted by warships.

Maniatis is calling for immediate European intervention before Turkey issues a NAVTEX in early October and commences operations. He has proposed three specific actions: implementing measures to protect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, proposing targeted sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the pipeline project, and convening an emergency meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council if the NAVTEX is issued or surveys begin.

This follows previous statements from Kaja Kallas, who noted that the EU expects Turkey to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all member states, stating that the issue had been raised in Brussels' contacts with Turkish authorities.