An urgent question to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, was submitted by the Vice-President of the Group of the Socialists and Democrats and PASOK MEP, Yannis Maniatis, following press reports that Turkey is preparing to begin surveys for the laying of the Turkey–Occupied Territories natural gas pipeline with the “Oruç Reis”, accompanied by warships.
G. Maniatis’s new intervention comes a few days after Kaja Kallas’s own reply to his previous question about this specific pipeline. At that time, the High Representative had stressed that the EU expects Ankara to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all member states and had pointed out that the issue had been raised in the Union’s contacts with the Turkish authorities.
Now, however, according to reports, Ankara is preparing to move from planning to action, with the issuance of a NAVTEX in early October and the start of surveys by the research vessel “Oruç Reis”.
G. Maniatis is asking Kaja Kallas for an immediate European reaction before the Turkish surveys begin and sets out three specific requests:
1. Specific actions to protect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus,
2. An immediate proposal to the Council for targeted sanctions against natural and legal persons who will participate in the surveys and in the implementation of the pipeline,
3. An extraordinary convening of the Foreign Affairs Council, if the NAVTEX is issued or the surveys begin.
On the occasion of the urgent question, G. Maniatis stated:
“A few days ago, High Representative Kaja Kallas stated that the EU expects Turkey to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the member states. Now Ankara is preparing to send the “Oruç Reis”, accompanied by warships.
I call on the High Representative to make use of her powers so as to immediately propose targeted sanctions and, upon the issuance of the NAVTEX or the start of the surveys, to convene the EU Foreign Ministers on an extraordinary basis. Cyprus’s sovereignty and sovereign rights require tangible European defense.”
What follows is the full text of the question:
Subject: Imminent surveys by the “Oruç Reis” for the Turkey–pseudo-state pipeline
“Recently, in replying to a related question of mine, you stated that the EU expects Turkey to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all member states.
Today, according to reports, Ankara is preparing to move from announcements to action: in early October the Turkish research vessel “Oruç Reis” is expected to begin surveys for the laying of the Turkey–Occupied Territories pipeline, accompanied by warships.
The EU is now called upon to prove in practice that the defense of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of one of its member states is not exhausted in statements.
The High Representative is asked:
1. What specific actions will you undertake before the start of the Turkish surveys to protect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus?
2. Will you immediately submit to the Council a proposal to impose targeted sanctions against the natural and legal persons who will participate in the surveys and in the implementation of the pipeline?
3. In the event of the issuance of the NAVTEX or the start of the surveys, will you convene an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council, as Article 30 TEU allows you to do?”