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EU-Turkey tensions over Mediterranean sovereignty

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2026-10-08 10:45 UTC → 2026-10-10 10:46 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Tensions have escalated regarding Turkey’s planned maritime activities in the Mediterranean. European Parliament Member Giannis Maniatis initially urged the EU to intervene against Turkey’s intention to conduct gas pipeline drilling surveys near occupied areas of Cyprus using the research vessel ‘Oruç Reis’. Maniatis proposed targeted sanctions and an emergency meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council to protect the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. Following these developments, Maniatis submitted 32 amendments to the European Parliament concerning the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. These proposals seek to exclude Turkey from European defense programs and funding due to its challenges against the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus. The amendments also advocate for stricter enforcement of arms export rules, enhanced protection for critical energy infrastructure like the Great Sea Interconnector, and increased security measures in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Other Greek MEPs have joined calls for more decisive EU action. MEP Giorgos Avtias urged the European Commission to implement “significant funding cuts” to Turkey, arguing that the nation seeks EU membership and funds while simultaneously threatening the territorial integrity of Greece and Cyprus. MEP Dimitris Tsiodras further characterized Turkey as a “revisionist power” and stated that the EU must treat violations of a member state’s borders as threats to the entire Union, calling for substantive consequences rather than mere statements. Expanding on these concerns, Maniatis has highlighted significant maritime and airspace violations, noting that by July, there were nearly 2,000 violations of Greek territorial waters and 646 violations of national airspace. He warned of the Turkish Parliament’s imminent ratification of the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine and criticized work on a natural gas pipeline intended to connect Turkey to occupied territories in Cyprus.

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