NICOSIA – The European Union, which has been reluctant to confront Turkey, will consider sanctions for the partial reopening of the abandoned resort of Varosha on the occupied side of Cyprus.

The EU’s foreign chief, Josep Borrell, said measures are on the table and would target those responsible but not if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, would be exempted.

Borrell also said the EU won’t act now and is relying on Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot side to back off although Tatar said previously that wouldn’t happen, Turkey also ignoring EU resolutions about the partial reopening.

Borrell said that it was important that Turkey “refrains from any actions that would further deteriorate the situation on the ground,” The National reported.

He didn’t specify what kind of sanctions might be imposed although the EU has repeatedly backed away from tangling with Erdogan in fear he will unleash more refugees and migrants on the bloc through Greece and its islands.

Parts of Varosha that had been restricted to the Turkish military were reopened to Turkish tourists, many of the properties there owned by Greek-Cypriots who the UN said should have them returned, although it’s been 47 years since they were seized in an unlawful invasion of the island.

This year, the EU condemned “Turkey’s unilateral steps and the unacceptable announcements” by Erdogan and Tatar to reopen the former resort on the occupied side unrecognized by any country in the world apart from Turkey.