Turkey
Turkish Cypriots elect Erdogan’s candidate amid east Med tensions
Turkish Cypriots in breakaway northern Cyprus on Sunday (18 October) narrowly elected right-wing nationalist Ersin Tatar, backed by Ankara, in a run-off poll, at a time of heightened tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
EU condemns Turkey ‘provocations’ in eastern Med
EU leaders on Friday (16 October) condemned "unilateral actions and provocations" by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, where it is locked in a standoff over energy resources with Greece and Cyprus.
France and Germany tell Turkey to stop provocations
France and Germany accused Turkey on Thursday (15 October) of continuing to provoke the European Union with its actions in the eastern Mediterranean, and urged it to clarify its positions in the coming weeks.
Turkish Cypriots vote for new leader amid east Med tensions
Turkish-held northern Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara, voted Sunday (11 October) for a new leader, amid charges of meddling by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
EU frowns at North Cyprus pre-election stunt
Authorities in breakaway northern Cyprus are to open the coastal section of the long-fenced-off disputed town of Varosha, a Turkish Cypriot leader announced Tuesday (6 October) ahead of elections at the weekend.
Turkey’s EU membership bid evaporating, Commission says
The European Union's executive said on Tuesday (6 October) that Turkey's government was undermining its economy, eroding democracy and destroying independent courts, leaving Ankara's bid to join the EU further away than ever.
Commission seeks to revive enlargement with new package
The European Commission published its long-awaited enlargement package on Tuesday (6 October) in a fresh attempt to revive the stalled process with promises of more substantial economic assistance in exchange for reforms. The package included country-specific reports on the progress of the six Western Balkans countries and Turkey.
NATO chief says expects Turkey to calm Karabakh conflict
The head of NATO said Monday (5 October) he expected Turkey -- a key ally of Azerbaijan -- to use its "considerable" influence to calm the conflict in the Armenian separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Macron demands Turkey explain ‘jihadists’ in Azerbaijan
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (2 October) demanded that Turkey explain what he said was the arrival of jihadist fighters in Azerbaijan -- and urged NATO to face up to its ally's actions.
Tsipras calls for dual EU approach to Turkey to ensure sustainable dialogue
Europe needs to adopt a robust mechanism of sanctions on Turkey but at the same time push forward a tempting positive agenda in case Ankara decides to follow the path of logic, the former Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, said in a letter to EU socialist leaders.
US strengthens its military presence in Greece
Greece looks for EU support this week in tough upcoming talks with Turkey after securing a diplomatic boost from the visiting US secretary of state.
Putin, Macron call for ‘complete’ halt to fighting in Karabakh
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French leader Emmanuel Macron called for a "complete" halt to fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh and said they were ready to intensify diplomatic efforts to help solve the conflict.
UN Security Council calls for Karabakh clashes to end ‘immediately’
The UN Security Council on Tuesday (29 September) called on Armenian and Azerbaijani forces to "immediately stop fighting" over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, after three days of deadly clashes, according to a statement seen by AFP.
Death toll rises in Karabakh clash despite calls for calm
Fierce fighting raged between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces on Monday, sparking bellicose rhetoric from regional power Turkey despite international pleas for a halt in fighting between the long-time enemies.
Greece urges Turkey to probe vandalism on island in disputed waters
Greece on Sunday (27 September) condemned vandalism to a mural of the Greek flag on Kastellorizo island blamed on Turkish nationals, a day before the arrival in the country of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Greece short of friends in Europe as Erdogan steps up pressure
The decision to postpone the EU council meeting solved – for the time being – one thorny EU question, writes Denis MacShane. What to do about Turkey’s new Sultan Erdogan and his non-stop aggression against EU member states, and core EU values?
Cyprus says committed to reunification talks, but not at gunpoint
Cyprus is committed to reunification talks with estranged Turkish Cypriots but not at gunpoint, its president said on Thursday (24 September) on a dispute which has deepened Greece-Turkey tensions and stymied European Union policy-making on Belarus.
The EU’s watershed moment
As the aggression and empire building of Erdogan's Turkey becomes clearer, the EU faces a watershed moment, argues Robert Ellis.
EU must openly discuss Turkey sanctions, says Austria’s EU minister
At the next European summit, Austria wants to speak openly about sanctions against Ankara, including the possibility to break off accession talks with Turkey, the country's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler told EURACTIV Germany.
EU sanctions three firms for breaking Libya arms embargo, Turkey reacts
The European Union on Monday (21 September) imposed sanctions on three companies -- one Turkish, one Kazakh and one Jordanian -- for breaching the UN arms embargo on Libya, drawing an angry reaction from Turkey.
Erdogan in search of EU ‘allies’ to block sanctions
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has held a series of contacts with EU leaders in recent days, aiming to find allies who would block potential sanctions against Turkey at the 24-25 September EU summit over its illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus blocks EU’s Belarus sanctions plan
Plans by the European Union to slap sanctions on Belarus have fallen into disarray, sources say, a hostage to internal politicking that one EU official described as a threat to the bloc's credibility.
Charles Michel vows to defend Cyprus rights in Turkey standoff
European Council chief Charles Michel pledged Wednesday (16 September) that the bloc will defend the rights of member state Cyprus in its standoff with Turkey over maritime and energy rights. Michel’s visit to the island comes a day after Turkey...