BRUSSELS: The European Union urged Turkey on Sunday to halt its exploration for gas in a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean "immediately", in a crisis that has stoked tensions with other countries in the region.

The call came after Ankara said it planned to extend its controversial search by drilling off the southwestern coast of Cyprus from next week.

Turkey's actions in the eastern Mediterranean have put it at loggerheads with its uneasy NATO ally Greece and the rest of the EU, with France announcing last week it would bolster its presence in the region in support of Athens.

Brussels has repeatedly called on Ankara to halt energy exploration off Cyprus, arguing that the drilling is illegal because it infringes on the island's exclusive economic zone.

Turkey's latest announcement "regrettably fuels further tensions and insecurity in the Eastern Mediterranean", EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"This action runs counter and undermines efforts to resume dialogue and negotiations, and to pursue immediate de-escalation, which is the only path towards stability and lasting solutions, as reiterated by EU foreign ministers last Friday," he said.

"I call on the Turkish authorities to end these activities immediately and to engage fully and in good faith in a broad dialogue with the European Union."

The Turkish navy said in a statement issued late Saturday that the drill ship Yavuz, which has been based off Cyprus for the past few months, will explore off the southwestern coast of the island from August 18 to September 15.