France is leading a push for European Union sanctions on Turkey next month, saying that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has not heeded EU leaders' warnings on Oct. 1 to back down in a dispute over gas exploration in the Mediterranean or face consequences.
Paris expected to propose the punitive action next month with the backing of Greece and Cyprus. "Turkey knows what it needs to do," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a French parliamentary hearing this week. "Confrontation or collaboration, it's up to them."
No detailed sanctions have been drawn up by France, but diplomats say any measures would hit areas of Turkey's economy aimed at limiting Turkish hydrocarbon exploration, likely in shipping, banking and energy.
France is also at odds with Turkey over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Paris has accused Ankara of fuelling the crisis in the Caucusus.
Support for any sanctions lie with Germany, which holds the EU's six-month presidency. Germany was angered when Ankara, which withdrew an exploration vessel before EU leaders met in October, began exploring for gas off Cyprus again last month.
A new spat between Germany and Turkey over the interception of a Turkish vessel in the Mediterranean this week has worsened already deteriorating EU-Turkey ties.
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