EU foreign ministers demanded that Turkey immediately halt the military operation in northern Syria and decided to impose economic sanctions against Turkey at the invitation of France. France also called for a meeting of member states of the international coalition against the Islamic State for the same purpose.

At a meeting in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers said in a statement: "The EU condemns Turkish military action, which severely undermines the stability and security of the entire region, resulting in the suffering of more civilians, increased displacement, and severely hampering humanitarian access."

"The EU recalls the decision taken by some member states to immediately halt the licensing of arms exports to Turkey," the statement said, noting "strong national positions", noting that EU representatives will meet days later to "coordinate and review" their positions.

Germany and France were seeking a European agreement to impose a comprehensive ban on arms sales to Turkey, which was not achieved at the meeting, where London indicated that Ankara is a member of NATO, justifying its rejection of the collective ban.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Mayo said there would be no EU arms embargo on Turkey, but all EU member states had pledged to take similar individual action, and made clear that the measure would only concern future contracts, not current supplies.

"We have no magic powers, but what we can do is to exert all possible pressure to put an end to this step," said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, who was appointed as the EU's foreign policy chief, adding that the decision to stop arms sales was up to the sovereignty of all. Member State of the Union.

France, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands have suspended arms deliveries to Turkey against the backdrop of the attack in Syria, joined by Spain, Austria and Belgium today.

The EU exported arms and ammunition worth 45 million euros to Turkey last year, according to the European Union's statistics office. Italy was the biggest seller, followed by Spain, Britain and Germany.

Before the meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called on the EU foreign ministers to condemn the Turkish attack in northern Syria, and Turkey to stop it immediately, and the United States to call for an urgent meeting of the members of the international coalition against ISIS.

Spanish FM: The decision to stop arms sales is up to the sovereignty of every EU member state

sanctions
On the other hand, the EU foreign ministers decided to draw up a list of economic sanctions against Turkey for the exploration work carried out by the Eastern Mediterranean off Cyprus, and said in a statement that they agreed to establish a framework for punitive measures targeting responsible persons and bodies or participating in "illegal" exploration. , Without yet issuing a list of targeted.

At a summit yesterday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel gathered in Paris, both of which demanded Turkey stop the operation in northern Syria.Macron said the military operation had created an intolerable humanitarian situation and increased the risk of ISIS returning.

Since October 9, Turkish forces, along with the opposition Syrian National Army, have been carrying out a military operation called the Spring of Peace to expel Kurdish units from the border areas east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria and to establish a "safe area" Ankara says is Will work to house Syrian refugees there.