The European Parliament on Thursday urged the EU to impose sanctions on Turkey after President Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of Cyprus. Earlier this month.

According to Reuters, 631 members voted in favour, three against and 59 abstentions.

The EU parliament thus agreed on a non-binding resolution in support of EU member Cyprus urging leaders to "take action and impose tough sanctions in response to Turkey's illegal actions".

The resolution comes ahead of a France push for EU sanctions on Turkey next month, following through on a threat made by the bloc in October over a dispute between Ankara and EU members Greece and Cyprus over natural gas rights.

The parliament resolution termed Turkey's gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean "illegal", a charge Ankara rejects.

France is yet to draft detailed sanctions, but Reuters cites diplomats as saying any measures would likely target areas of Turkey's economy linked to its hydrocarbon exploration, such as shipping, energy and banking.

"Turkey knows what it needs to do," Reuters quotes French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. "Confrontation or collaboration, it's up to them."