BRUSSELS – The European Commission, in a reply to a question put by ruling New Democracy MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis, said that Turkey must respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and sovereign rights of all EU member-states or face repercussions, according to a press release issued by the MEP on Tuesday.

According to the press release, the EU Commission threatened Turkey “with the imposition of political and economic sanctions in the case of new provocative actions in violation of international law, whose aim is to harm the interests of the EU and its member-states.”

In addition, it said that Turkey must avoid threats and actions that undermine good neighbour relations and respect the sovereignty of the EU member-states over their territorial waters and air space, as well as all their sovereign rights, including the right to search for and exploit natural resources in accordance with EU and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The MEP’s announcement noted: “The EU confirms its determination to use all the means and options at its disposal to defend its interests and the interests of its member-states and to preserve regional stability in the case of unilateral actions by Turkey in violation of international law. It also stresses that there will be repercussions, both economic and political, against Turkey in the case of new unilateral actions and provocations that seek to harm the interests of the EU and its member-states.”

The Commission was replying to a question from Kefalogiannis referring to “Turkey’s constant and escalating hostile rhetoric, which openly threatens peace, security and stability in the region of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean” and also pointed to “constant violations of Greek air space and overflights above inhabited Greek islands by Turkish fighter aircraft” and “provocative statements by high-ranking Turkish officials that openly dispute Greek sovereignty over the islands of the Eastern Aegean”, as well as a statement by Turkey’s president that Turkish forces “will come suddenly one night.”