Greece Urges EU Intervention Against Turkish Fishermen's Activities

From Athens, we view the actions of Turkish fishermen in the eastern Mediterranean with grave concern, and we have formally requested the European Union's decisive intervention. Our nation's maritime minister, Vassilis Kikilias, has directly addressed this issue with EU Commissioner Kostas Kadis, highlighting the provocative behavior that infringes upon our established maritime laws and sovereign rights.

The core of this dispute, as is well-known, lies in the long-standing disagreement over the delimitation of maritime borders and exclusive economic zones within the Aegean Sea. Greece has meticulously defined areas with restricted fishing, adhering strictly to international maritime law. However, Turkey's persistent challenge to these boundaries, asserting that they fall outside Greek jurisdiction, creates an untenable situation. This is not merely a fishing dispute; it is a direct challenge to the territorial integrity and established rights of Greece, which also serve as the external borders of the European Union.

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With the commissioner, I discussed the serious issue concerning our fishermen and fisheries, as well as the provocative behavior of our Turkish neighbors regarding illegal fishing, non-compliance with maritime law, and the questioning of our sovereign rights.

We emphasize that Greece's maritime borders are, in effect, the EU's borders in this crucial region. Therefore, any violation of our sovereign rights is a matter of direct concern for the entire Union. While the European Commission has previously stated that coastal states bear the primary responsibility for enforcing maritime law, Greece receives support through patrols from the European Fisheries Control Agency and satellite imagery. However, direct EU intervention is now necessary to halt these illegal practices and uphold the principles of international law and respect for sovereign boundaries. This is a critical moment for asserting European solidarity and ensuring stability in the Mediterranean.

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We ask the EU to intervene.