Ankara seeks to calm tensions with EU

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will visit Brussels on 21 January to calm tensions with the EU.

European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell announced that Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu will visit Brussels in order to calm tensions with the EU, according to AFP.

The announcement of the visit comes after the phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President German Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday.

The European Commission said the EU seeks to develop a constructive relationship with Turkey based on cooperation and to deescalate tensions with Ankara.

The Turkish President also argued that they wanted to open a new page in relations with the EU and accused some EU member countries of creating artificial problems.

"We do not agree with this assessment," replied Eric Mamer, a spokesperson for the European Commission. "Tensions with Turkey are spreading to the entire European Union," Mamer added.

On December 11, the EU agreed to implement sanctions on Turkey's "illegal and aggressive" actions in the Mediterranean Sea.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated at the end of the summit that they took “individual sanctions” against those who participated in drilling and exploration activities in the waters of Cyprus. Macron added that the sanctions would come into effect in the coming weeks.

"The process is going on and the decision will be taken with the consent of all member states," said Josep Borrell's spokesperson.

EU member states need unanimity to impose sanctions on the companies and individuals. These names will be added to the blacklist created in November 2019. Two officials of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) are already on the blacklist. A visa ban was imposed on them and their assets in the EU were frozen.