EU leaders weigh sanctions over Turkey’s Med drilling work

Concerned that their credibility is at stake, European Union leaders are set Thursday to give the green light to the expansion of sanctions against Turkey over its exploration of gas reserves in Mediterranean waters claimed by EU members Greece and Cyprus.

At their last summit in October, the leaders offered "a positive political EU-Turkey agenda" to Ankara, including trade and customs benefits and the prospect of more funds to help Turkey manage Syrian refugees on its territory if it halts its "illegal activities" in the eastern Mediterranean.

But EU foreign ministers unanimously agreed this week that Turkey's behavior hasn't improved. Indeed, after chairing their videoconference on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that "in several aspects the situation has worsened."

"The stakes are very precise, very clear: the credibility of the European...