The European Union (EU) warned Turkey against continuing its policy in the Middle East, and announced that the coming days “will be crucial” in the relationship between Brussels and Ankara.
Speaking during a press briefing in Brussels on Monday, Peter Stano said that the European Union expects Turkey to act toward a de-escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The run-up to the European Council and the summit of EU leaders “is a crucial time… for Turkey to show its intentions in actions, whether it wants to de-escalate or to proceed over the course it has taken over the last few weeks and months,” he added.
Stano was referring to the European summit scheduled for December 10 and 11, during which the Union’s countries and institutions will evaluate Turkish practices and draw on their basis the features of the next phase of relations between the two parties.
Asked about recent meetings between Ibrahim Kalin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman, and EU officials in Brussels, Stano noted that “the EU has been very clear on expectations,” adding that its position had been “conveyed” also during those meetings.
“The expectation is de-escalation,” Stano said.
