The escalation of Ankara's conflict with Athens and Nicosia over hydrocarbon resources in the eastern Mediterranean will be the main topic at the European Council meeting when the EU considers the issue of sanctions on Turkey.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his colleagues from other EU countries have already discussed the range of measures that we could take with regard to Turkey, AFP quotes Le Drian.

Meanwhile, EU leaders are set to meet for a two-day summit on September 24, at which they will decide whether to impose sanctions on Ankara for its activities in the region.

Le Drian called on the Turkish President to start talks on his regional issues before the upcoming meeting of the Council of Europe. 

The Turks must show that this issue can be discussed, the French foreign minister told France Inter radio.