The EU bloc has expressed disappointment in Turkey’s activities in the eastern Mediterranean.

Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President, said on Friday that an agreement for the drafting of sanctions against Turkey does exist.

Speaking on the second day of an informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers, being held in Berlin, Mr Borrell expressed general dissatisfaction felt across the bloc, adding that resolving the issue of drilling and the presence of Turkish ships in the territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus is a matter of urgency. He said that “the most pressing issue is that of the drilling and the presence of Turkish ships in the territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus – something that is dangerous.”

The EU issued a one-month ultimatum to Turkey before sanctions are imposed which would have repercussions on the Turkish economy. The EU bloc discussed challenges which Turkey’s threats to Greek and Turkey’s sovereignty are causing and a number of sanctions were discussed, including restrictive measures in case of Turkey’s continuation in illegal drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean, sanctions in specific areas including sales and procurements of material, a ban on financial services by EU state-owned banks as well as a reduction of European funds among other considerations.

READ MORE: Open letter to Americans about Turkey’s bullying of Greece and Cyprus

Meanwhile, German Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko Maas said that restrictive measures against Turkey must be discussed at the EU Summit in September, and he added that relations with Ankara are tense due to the ongoing dispute in the eastern Mediterranean. Mr Maas stressed his belief that the only viable way out of this regional geopolitical crisis is, he said, constructive dialogue.

Greece’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias said that Greece received the unanimous support of all its EU partners during the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Berlin, speaking at the German capital on Friday. He expressed satisfaction for the “absolutely supportive” context of talks in Berlin.

Mr Dendias added that Borrell presented options for future sanctions against Turkey, which will also be presented to the European Council on 24 September.

“I think the Greek side got what it could get from this meeting, an understanding that sanctions will come if Turkey does not deescalate tensions and return to a dialogue,” he said.

READ MORE: Greece and Turkey at loggerheads with rival exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean

Mr Dendias also expressed the hope that Turkey “will return to reason, will stop the provocations and arbitrary actions, will stop its violations of International Law and will allow Greece to return to a context of discussion on the one-and-only dispute, namely the Exclusive Economic Zone and the overlying maritime zones, with a reference framework of International Law and the Law of the Sea.”

Asked about Greece’s so-called ‘red lines’, he said that these are “the country’s constitution and the protection of its sovereignty and all sovereign rights.”