About: offshore drilling
Turkish FM on charm offensive in Brussels
The European Union will on Thursday (21 January) press Turkey to make good on recent gestures from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to calm tensions, as Ankara's foreign minister visits Brussels.
EU hopes for Eastern Mediterranean conference fritter away
The EU push for a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean to ease tensions in the region has reached deadlock, diplomatic sourced told EURACTIV.com.
EU countries feel ‘numb’ about Turkey ahead of critical EU summit
EU member states cannot find a common ground to respond to an escalating situation with Turkey ahead of a crucial summit later this week, EURACTIV has learnt.
Michel says Turkey should stop playing ‘cat and mouse’ with EU
Turkey has not de-escalated its stand-off with Greece in response to diplomatic outreach, European Council chief Charles Michel said on Friday (4 December) and warned that EU member states would now consider “the means at our disposal”, which most probably means sanctions.
In parting shot, Pompeo rebukes Turkey at NATO meeting
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used his final NATO meeting this week to sharply criticise Turkey, saying its purchase of a Russian weapons system was "a gift" to Moscow, according to five diplomats and officials.
France, MEPs push for sanctions on Turkey next month
France is leading a push for European Union sanctions on Turkey at the 10-11 December summit to follow through on a threat made by the bloc in October.
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.
US, Germany warn Turkey not to squander trust in Mediterranean
After the United States used strong language slamming Turkey's renewed push to send a vessel to carry out seismic surveys in the eastern Mediterranean, Germany urged Ankara not to dispel the "climate of trust" needed to de-escalate tensions with Greece.
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.
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.
US, Greece call for peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in east Mediterranean
The United States and Greece called on Monday for a peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in the east Mediterranean as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a two-day trip to Greece amid increased regional tension over energy resources.
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.
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...
Turkish vessel leaves contested waters in eastern Med
A Turkish research ship at the centre of a row with Greece over gas exploration has left disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean and returned to the coast in a move hailed as a "positive first step" by the Greek prime minister.
Turkey defies Greece, extends Mediterranean exploration
Turkey said on Monday (31 August) that its Oruç Reis exploration vessel will now carry out seismic surveys in a disputed part of the eastern Mediterranean until 12 September, in a move likely to stoke tensions in the region.
Greece seeks emergency EU meeting on Turkey
Greece wants the EU to hold an emergency foreign ministers’ meeting, the prime minister’s office said Tuesday (11 August) amid a burgeoning row with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean. Tensions were stoked Monday when Ankara sent the research ship Oruç...
Virus crisis threatens to set back oil platform decommissioning
Oil companies are being forced to cut spending due to a fall in global oil prices, threatening funds earmarked to dismantle dated off-shore rigs, despite environmental risks.
Turkey vows more support to secure gains in Libya conflict
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed on Thursday (4 June) to ramp up Turkey's support for its ally in Libya to lock in recent military gains, and promised joint exploration for oil at sea following talks in Ankara ahead of a potential ceasefire push.
US warns Turkey over offshore drilling near Cyprus
There are rules in exploring energy resources in the Mediterranean Sea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday (5 October), warning Turkey not to engage in drilling activity that is "illegal" and "unacceptable".
Tensions grow as Cyprus says Turkish drilling ship violates its rights
Tensions between Cyprus and Turkey over offshore drilling intensified on Friday (4 October) when Nicosia said a decision to send a ship to an area it had already licensed was a "severe escalation" of Turkish violations of its sovereign rights.