The EU will accelerate the development of sanctions on Turkey for illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, and will also prepare additional measures against Ankara by September 24 in case there is no progress from the Turkish side, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell told a briefing.

According to him, it is clear that there is growing frustration in the EU with Turkey’s behavior, so the Council asks the working groups to speed up work on imposing sanctions on persons proposed by Cyprus due to illegal drilling operations, TASS reported.

He added they have also agreed that in the absence of progress, they can develop new sanctions, which can be discussed at the EU summit on September 24.

The EU is also considering banning entry to its ports for Turkish vessels engaged in illegal drilling activities, Borrell said.