During a speech on 20 July 2021, President Erdoğan of Turkey unequivocally stated his intention to unilaterally reopen Varosha, in violation of the rules of international law.

The Vice‑President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), Josep Borrell, stated that in the event ‘of renewed provocations and unilateral actions in breach of international law by Turkey’, the EU ‘will use the instruments and options at its disposal to defend its interests.

A recent study of Parliament’s Committee on International Trade showed that a possible suspension of the EU‑Turkey customs union would result in greater costs for Turkey, with its exports being reduced by 43 % compared to 33 % for the EU.

In the light of the above:

Is the VP/HR prepared to use all of the instruments at his disposal to govern the EU‑Turkey customs union, including its total suspension, particularly given that the consequences of this would be worse for Turkey than the EU?

Read the answer given by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis on behalf of the European Commission.