Turkey objects to Greece's Aegean renewable energy plan, citing legal disputes

Ankara has voiced strong opposition to Greece's newly implemented Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, asserting that the plan, which extends to the Aegean Sea, holds no legal standing for Turkey.

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The new framework, like other similar Greek initiatives, has 'no legal consequence' for Turkey regarding Aegean issues.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli stated that the framework, along with other Greek initiatives, does not affect Turkey's legal position on Aegean matters. He argued this is due to the "geographical formations whose ownership has not been transferred to Greece by international agreements." Keceli emphasized that such unilateral actions in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas like the Aegean are counterproductive and stressed the need for cooperation among coastal states based on international maritime law.

Keceli reiterated Turkey's readiness to cooperate with Greece as a fellow Aegean coastal state, advocating for a "sincere and comprehensive" approach to bilateral issues grounded in international law, equality, and good neighborliness. He referenced the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations and Good Neighborliness, signed in December 2023, as a basis for such cooperation.

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Such actions should avoid unilateral moves in enclosed or semi-enclosed seas like the Aegean and Mediterranean, emphasizing the need for cooperation among coastal states according to international maritime law.

The Greek framework, approved by the Ministers of Environment and Energy, aims to modernize regulations for siting new renewable energy projects and storage facilities. It incorporates updated environmental, social, and economic considerations, setting stricter terms for environmental protection, local communities, and cultural heritage to achieve energy targets by 2050. The plan also introduces tighter restrictions for new photovoltaic installations, including a 1.5% land coverage limit per regional unit to preserve landscapes and agricultural land.

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Turkey, as one of the two coastal states of the Aegean Sea, is always ready to cooperate with Greece.