Macron urges united European stand against Turkey’s ‘unacceptable’ actions​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

French president says Turkey can no longer be regarded as reliable partner in region

A soldier hangs from a helicopter during a military exercise in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. AFP

Turkey's research vessel, Oruc Reis, center, is surrounded by Turkish navy vessels as it was heading in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey. AP

Turkish seismic research vessel 'Oruc Reis' heads in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean Sea.AFP

A Turkish Navy warship patroling next to Turkey's drilling ship "Fatih" dispatched towards the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus. AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord , during their meeting in Istanbul. Turkey signed a military deal late on November 27, 2019, with Libya's UN-recognised government following a meeting with Turkish President in Istanbul, his office said. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a united European stance against Turkey's “unacceptable” behaviour as it encroached on its Mediterranean neighbours.

Tension is high in the Eastern Mediterranean over Turkey's oil prospecting and naval expansion in waters claimed by Cyprus and Greece.

“Turkey is no longer a partner in this region,” Mr Macron said before a meeting of the seven European countries in the Mediterranean – France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Cyprus.

"We Europeans need to be clear and firm with the government of President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, which today is behaving in an unacceptable manner."

Mr Macron said Europe should draw red lines for Turkey and try to restart dialogue.

“We Mediterraneans need to live in peace," he said.

"Our goal is to avoid all escalation but avoiding escalation should not mean passiveness or acceptance. It is up to Turkey to clarify its intentions.”

Turkey's Foreign Ministry criticised Mr Macron and accused him of arrogance.

“It is not for Macron to determine the maritime jurisdiction of any country in the Mediterranean or any other geography,” the ministry said.

European Council president Charles Michel will also travel to Greece, Cyprus and Malta next week for talks with senior figures.

Countries under pressure from Mr Erdogan's expansionist Blue Homeland policies have sought backing from the EU.

Writing in The Times  newspaper, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday called for European sanctions against Turkey for its aggression in the Mediterranean.

"As Greece has formed strong partnerships with countries such as Israel, Egypt and the UAE, Turkey has acted alone, posturing in the Eastern Mediterranean, interfering in Syria and Libya, and openly supporting Hamas," Mr Mitsotakis wrote.

"France, which has vital national interests in the Mediterranean, has stood by us."

France has been particularly critical of Turkey and urged the EU to go much farther.

Last month Turkey sent an exploration vessel backed by military frigates to waters between Greece and Cyprus, which led Athens to respond with naval exercises as a warning.

While there have been calls for dialogue, sanctions against Turkey have also been requested.

On Thursday, Greece’s deputy foreign minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis told European Parliament members that economic measures needed to be considered if Turkey did not remove its military vessels and gas-drilling ships from waters off Cyprus.

"The sanctions should put this pressure, to be severe, for a limited time but severe, to send the message that Europe is here to negotiate but is also here to defend its values," Mr Varvitsiotis told the parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

On Wednesday, Mr Macron said the Mediterranean should be a place of culture and knowledge, as he lamented the political, energy and religious conflicts taking place.

A special summit of EU leaders will be held on September 24 and 25 to discuss the dispute.