MEPs are expected to examine ongoing tensions in the region, including actions and rhetoric by the Turkish government in relation to international law, the UN Charter and the principle of good neighbourly relations.
The discussion is expected to cover Turkish claims in the Aegean, questions concerning the sovereignty of Greek islands and actions affecting the Republic of Cyprus.
MEPs are also expected to discuss the implications of the tensions for efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Airspace disputes
The debate comes as the Greek government continues to report airspace violations by Turkish aircraft.
According to the Greek military, seven Turkish aircraft – two F-16 fighter jets, a CN-235 surveillance aircraft and four drones – violated Greek airspace on Tuesday.
Turkey disputes the Greek position, arguing that it does not recognise Greece’s claim to 10 nautical miles of airspace from its coast. Athens maintains the claim, while Ankara argues that Greece’s airspace should correspond to its territorial waters.
Tensions over energy projects
Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean have also been linked to energy projects.
Plans are underway for seabed surveys between Crete and Cyprus as part of preparations for the Great Sea Interconnector electricity cable. Turkey has said the planned route passes through an area it considers part of its exclusive economic zone.
At the same time, Turkey is conducting seabed surveys between its mainland and Cyprus for a planned natural gas pipeline.
Kallas has previously called on Turkey to respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus in relation to the gas pipeline issue.
Erdogan’s UN remarks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also referred to disputes in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean during his address to the UN General Assembly last month.
Erdogan said Turkey wanted existing issues to be resolved on the basis of good neighbourly relations and international law.
He also referred to plans for an eastern Mediterranean conference bringing together regional leaders to discuss issues affecting the region.
The European Parliament has previously called on Turkey to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of EU member states and to resolve outstanding disputes in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean through dialogue and in accordance with international law.
Also read: Rubio calls Greece-Turkey conflict ‘unthinkable’
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
