EU warns Turkey it faces sanctions if 'provocations' don't stop

Bloc's leaders overcome stalemate to impose sanctions on Belarus officials accused of rigging elections

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference after EU leaders overcame a stalemate to impose sanctions on Belarus. EPA

The European Union could impose sanctions on Ankara if Turkish "provocations and pressures" continue in the East Mediterranean, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday after a meeting of the 27-nation bloc's leaders.

"We want a positive and constructive relationship with Turkey, and this would be also be very much in Ankara's interest," she told a news conference.

"But it will only work if the provocations and pressures stop. We therefore expect that Turkey from now on abstains from unilateral actions. In caser of such renewed actions by Ankara the EU will use all its instruments and options available."

EU leaders overcame a diplomatic stalemate to agree on sanctions for Belarus after a long night of talks, assuring Cyprus the EU would stand firm on Turkey over its oil and gas drilling in the Mediterranean.

The agreement to impose sanctions on about 40 Belarus officials accused of rigging an August 9 presidential election allows the EU to make good on its promise to support pro-democracy protesters in Minsk.

Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have been protesting on a daily basis since the disputed presidential election in August. AP

"We have unblocked sanctions on Belarus," a senior EU official told Reuters.

Another EU diplomat said, "It's a decent compromise", but gave no details.

While Britain and Canada have imposed sanctions on Minsk to show support for pro-democracy demonstrations, the impasse in the 27-nation EU, where decisions are made unanimously, has cost the bloc credibility, diplomats say.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, on his island's 60th anniversary of independence from Britain, had demanded a much tougher stance on Turkey as the price for supporting Belarus sanctions.

Mr Anastasiades said the EU must send a message that Ankara's oil and gas exploration along the coast of the Mediterranean island is unacceptable.

Germany was against the imposition of EU sanctions on Turkey, fearing it would disrupt efforts to cool tensions with Greece.

Turkey, a candidate to join the EU and a member of Nato, has slid towards authoritarianism under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but remains a partner that the bloc cannot ignore.

In a sign that the diplomatic stand-off is easing, at least between Athens and Ankara, Nato announced on Thursday that the two alliance members had set up a "military de-confliction mechanism" to avoid accidental clashes at sea