The European Union is studying the implementation of the threat to impose sanctions on Turkey

Last week, the European Union foreign ministers assess the reasons for imposing sanctions on Turkey over the gas dispute in the Mediterranean, so that the leaders of the bloc decide whether to implement their threat to punish Ankara.

A senior EU official said: “I have no knowledge of any EU government that challenges the view that the situation is worse than October and that the leaders should consider the consequences.

Turkey’s move in late November to return an exploration vessel to its ports eased tensions, but EU officials and diplomats said that “the broader issues related to Libya, Syria, Russia and tyranny in Turkey” hardened the EU’s positions.

European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs the European Union summits, called on Turkey last week to stop playing the “cat and mouse” game by making concessions that it would then back down.

France and the European Parliament said it was time to punish Turkey, a NATO member and candidate to join the European Union, which is seen in Brussels as fueling the gas dispute for domestic policies.

Turkey rejects EU talk of sanctions, saying it is not constructive.