Pavlos Xanthoulis
Nicosia is seeking help from Brussels as plans advance for a subsea, bidirectional natural gas pipeline between Turkey and the self-declared “turkish republic of northern cyprus.”
In a letter to senior European Commission officials, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos says work “appears to have begun.” He urges the EU to treat the matter “with the utmost seriousness” and tell Ankara to refrain from implementing the memorandum of understanding and halt all related activities, which further violate the sovereignty of an EU member state.
The foreign minister hints at sanctions against Turkey, linking the developments to unlawful activities that triggered EU measures in 2019.
The letter is addressed to EU foreign policy chief and Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, with Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Suica and Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen copied in.
Obtained by Kathimerini, the letter also sounds a broader warning about developments in Cyprus. It expresses Nicosia’s “deepest concern” and describes the agreement between Turkey and the so-called “trnc” as another example of Ankara’s longstanding, systematic policy of consolidating control over the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
Kombos argues that these actions undermine the U.N. secretary-general’s efforts to restart negotiations for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement while seeking to predetermine the island’s future through irreversible developments.
He also raises violations of the Republic’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, noting that Turkish officials have said the bidirectional pipeline could eventually carry natural gas from maritime areas belonging to the Republic of Cyprus.
The minister indirectly raises the issue of sanctions against Turkey. He says the developments must be considered in the context of Turkey’s illegal drilling and seismic activities in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between 2019 and 2021. Those activities, he notes, led the EU to establish a framework of restrictive measures in 2019 in response to Turkey’s unlawful drilling in Cyprus’ maritime zones.
The EU remains extremely reluctant to take measures against Turkey, which it regards as a key partner in migration and in maintaining NATO cohesion—with implications for Europe’s emerging defense and security architecture.
Nevertheless, Kombos also indirectly raises the possibility of reversing the “positive agenda” extended to Turkey in April 2024. That process has already restored all high-level EU–Turkey dialogues and advanced important areas of cooperation, including renewed European Investment Bank activity in Turkey, easier access to EU visas, and discussions on upgrading the customs union.
Kombos also asks the EU to record Turkey’s actions in the Commission’s forthcoming annual report, expected on Nov. 4.
That report carried considerable weight in the early years after Turkey’s accession negotiations began in 2005, helping pave the way for unanimously agreed sanctions in 2006. Today, however, it is regarded as having limited political influence, lacking any meaningful leverage over Ankara.
Keep expectations low
The EU recognizes the new problem posed by a subsea pipeline linking Turkey to occupied Cyprus, further complicating an already difficult situation and the slim prospects of a settlement.
Even so, Brussels, Berlin and Rome view Ankara as a crucial “strategic partner” for NATO cohesion and, by extension, Europe’s defense architecture, as well as for migration management and wider regional energy cooperation.
Against that backdrop, a source at EU headquarters believes the scope for an EU response is, for now at least, “very limited.” That was also apparent at the Foreign Affairs Council on Oct. 13, when Kombos raised the issue following his letter to the four EU officials.
A source in Brussels told Kathimerini that, during the meeting, Kombos said Ankara had issued a NAVTEX maritime notice on Sept. 30 — the day before the anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus’ independence — and conducted surveys in Cypriot territorial waters and the country’s exclusive economic zone. He linked Turkey’s conduct to the “arrogance” of an “occupying power.”
The response, however, was largely routine, confined to familiar, broadly worded calls for Turkey to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all EU member states.
According to information obtained by Kathimerini, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said candidate countries remained bound by specific obligations. She added, however, that “the current geopolitical circumstances cannot be ignored” — with everything that implies, and all that one might read into it.
Turkey moves to consolidate control over the occupied areas
Kathimerini reproduces below the letter Kombos sent to the EU on Sept. 16, expressing deep concern over the developments envisaged under the Turkey–“trnc” memorandum for a bidirectional subsea pipeline.
The letter was addressed to Kallas and Kos, with Suica and Jorgensen copied in.
“Your Excellencies, dear Kaja, dear Marta,
“I would like to draw your attention to recent developments causing the deepest concern to the Republic of Cyprus. Specifically, I wish to inform you of the illegal ‘memorandum of understanding’ signed on July 10, 2026, between Turkey and the illegal secessionist entity in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. The document provides for the construction of a bidirectional subsea natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.
“The purported implementation of the subsea natural gas pipeline, together with any associated offshore and onshore infrastructure works, is being undertaken without the approval and consent of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.
“The aforementioned intention, and the subsequent construction of a subsea pipeline in the occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus, constitute a further violation of the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereignty. They also violate its rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), whose relevant provisions reflect customary international law.
“The project appears to have already begun, as Turkey issued a navigational warning (NAVTEX) in July 2026, renewed in August, for survey activities related to the proposed pipeline. At present, these activities are reportedly taking place within Turkish territorial waters. Nevertheless, they provide clear evidence of Turkey’s intention to implement the illegal memorandum.
“Turkey’s actions must not be viewed simply as an energy infrastructure project between Turkey and the illegal secessionist entity. They are another example of Turkey’s longstanding and systematic policy of consolidating its control over the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, with the ultimate aim of integrating those areas into Turkey economically and in terms of energy.
“In addition, Turkish officials have stated that the pipeline could also facilitate the future transportation of natural gas resources located within maritime areas over which the Republic of Cyprus exercises sovereign rights, raising further legal and political concerns about Turkey’s intentions and plans.
“These developments must be considered in the context of Turkey’s illegal drilling and seismic activities in the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between 2019 and 2021. Those illegal activities led the European Union to establish a framework of restrictive measures in 2019 in response to Turkey’s unlawful drilling within Cyprus’ maritime zones. That framework remains in place through successive annual renewals.
“These actions undermine the U.N. secretary-general’s efforts to resume negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem while also seeking to predetermine the island’s future through irreversible developments.
“Furthermore, Turkey’s conduct must be taken into account in the EU’s overall approach toward the country, in accordance with the framework established by EU leaders in April 2024. It should also be duly reflected in the Commission’s forthcoming enlargement package and its assessment of Turkey.
“I therefore trust that the European Union, you, and your services will examine this matter with the utmost seriousness and convey a firm, clear, and unequivocal message to Ankara to refrain from taking any steps toward implementing the memorandum of understanding and to halt all related activities, which further violate the sovereignty of a member state.
“Yours sincerely,
“Dr Constantinos Kombos”
