ANKARA, 12 December, 2020, (TON): Turkey on Friday rejected a declaration of the European Union (EU) summit where the European leaders agreed to extend sanctions against Ankara over the dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"We reject the biased and illegal approach that had to be adopted with the EU Council Conclusions of Dec. 10," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a written statement.

The sanctions would damage both sides and benefit nobody, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

"The summit held by the EU yesterday did not actually respond to the expectations of several countries, because their demands were not justified," Erdogan told reporters.

The EU leaders decided to draw up a list of Turkish targets for sanctions at a summit on Friday in response to Turkey's gas exploration in Mediterranean waters also claimed by EU members Greece and Cyprus.

Turkey is locked in various disputes with the EU, including claims to drilling rights in Cyprus and a wider disagreement over the way maritime borders are drawn across the seas.

France and Turkey are also at loggerheads in Libya. Turkey’s leading role in NATO is also causing concern in some quarters.

It is unclear anyway whether more sanctions would slow Turkey down. Steps were taken in the past the slashing of funds meant to prepare Turkey for EU membership and the virtual freezing of its accession talks, however Ankara has become more vocal.