Reuters exclusively reports EU halts sanctions on Turkey oil executives

Reuters exclusively reported that the European Union has frozen plans to blacklist more senior executives at Turkey’s state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), in the clearest sign that a diplomatic offensive by Ankara this year is bearing fruit. EU leaders in December had proposed asset freezes and travel bans over Turkey’s “unauthorized drilling activities” for natural gas in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean, although they did not specify individuals.