The EU countries around the Mediterranean (Med7) wish to "re-engage" in good faith dialogue with Turkey, which is pursuing a hegemonic policy in the Mediterranean, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday (September 10th) after a top of Med7.

"We have collectively reaffirmed a will to re-engage in a responsible dialogue and to find the ways of balance in the region (...) We have no naivety, but we wish to re-engage it in good faith", declared the chief of State.

"Our goal is really to restore normal relations with Turkey," he added.

Tensions between Athens and Ankara have worsened since the launch in August of a Turkish gas exploration campaign in a disputed area of ​​the eastern Mediterranean rich in hydrocarbons.

Greece, France and Italy have recently carried out military maneuvers in this sector.

>> To read: Greece-Turkey: what to know about the escalation of tensions in the Mediterranean

Solidarity with Cyprus and Greece

In the press release published at the end of the summit, the Seven (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta and Cyprus) reaffirm their "full support and [their] whole solidarity with Cyprus and Greece in the face of repeated attacks on their countries. sovereignty and their sovereign rights as well as aggressive measures taken by Turkey. "

"We maintain that if Turkey does not move forward on the path of dialogue and put an end to its unilateral activities, the EU is ready to draw up a list of additional restrictive measures which could be discussed at the European Council of 24 and September 25, 2020 ", they add.

At the opening of the summit, Emmanuel Macron estimated that Turkey was "no longer a partner" in the Eastern Mediterranean, while expressing his "deep wish" to re-engage in a "fruitful dialogue" with Ankara, despite its drilling activities " unacceptable ".

He also deplored that Turkey had signed "unacceptable agreements with the Libyan government of understanding, denying the legitimate rights of Greece".

"We Europeans must be clear and firm with the government of President Erdogan, which today has unacceptable behavior", he added.

"I hope that the discussions this afternoon will enable us to move forward on a common position and my deep wish is to re-engage in a fruitful dialogue with Turkey." 

With AFP and Reuters

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