On 30 July 2026, High Representative/Vice-President Kallas, answering a parliamentary question on behalf of the European Commission, cautioned Türkiye against using fisheries and environmental protection policy to advance its 'Blue Homeland' doctrine, which challenges the sovereign rights of EU Member States, particularly Greece and Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean. Kallas stressed that Türkiye must respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all Member States, including the right to explore and exploit natural resources under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and warned that unilateral actions violating international law undermine regional stability and the EU-Türkiye relationship.
The answer came in response to a question from Nikolas Farantouris (S&D), who raised concerns about Türkiye's new action plan to protect marine resources and align with UN Food and Agriculture Organization standards, arguing that the plan is linked to strengthening Türkiye's alleged sovereign rights over its continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones. Farantouris asked how the Commission assesses this connection, whether it considers the instrumentalisation of environmental protection acceptable, and what measures it intends to take to protect the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus.
Kallas's response did not introduce new policy measures or specific actions, but reiterated the EU's commitment to defending its interests and those of its Member States. The High Representative noted that these issues are assessed annually in the context of the enlargement reports on Türkiye and are consistently raised in meetings with Turkish counterparts, including during a visit by Kallas, the Commissioner for Enlargement, and the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration to Türkiye on 30 June 2026. The answer framed the issue as a matter of good neighbourly relations and adherence to international law, without detailing any concrete steps beyond continued diplomatic engagement.
The reply signals a firm but non-escalatory stance, reaffirming the EU's position without announcing new sanctions or legal actions. The Commission's approach appears to prioritise diplomatic pressure and the integration of these concerns into existing frameworks, such as enlargement assessments. This leaves the door open for future measures if Türkiye's actions are perceived as crossing a threshold, but for now the EU's response remains declarative, focusing on the importance of abstaining from unilateral actions that violate international law. The answer underscores the EU's interest in maintaining regional stability while protecting the sovereign rights of its Member States, balancing firmness with a preference for dialogue.