The European Council on Tuesday adopted a decision to extend the “sanctions regime” over what it calls Türkiye’s “unauthorized drilling activities,” in the Eastern Mediterranean for a further year until Nov. 12, 2023.
It said in a statement that the decision was taken following the review of the framework of restrictive measures in response to the country’s activities.
“The European Union will therefore maintain its ability to impose targeted restrictive measures on persons or entities responsible for or involved in unauthorized drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean,” it said.
The sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons and entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed.
Currently, two individuals – Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) Board Member and Deputy General Manager Mehmet Ferruh Akalın and TPAO Exploration Department Deputy Director Ali Coşkun Namoğlu – are subject to sanctions as they are responsible for “planning, managing and implementing hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
The decision will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
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