ATHENS, May 15 – Greek officials on Friday requested European Union assistance to address what they characterized as illegal fishing practices and maritime law violations by Turkish vessels in the eastern Mediterranean waters.
The two NATO member nations and regional neighbors have maintained conflicting positions for decades regarding continental shelf boundaries and maritime authority in the Aegean Sea, particularly concerning fishing rights.
During a Friday meeting in Athens with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias presented the concerns.
“I’ve raised with the Commissioner a major issue for Greece regarding our fishermen and our fisheries and the provocative behaviour of our Turkish neighbours with regards to the unlawful fishing, the non-respect of the law of the sea, and the disputing of our sovereign rights,” Kikilias stated.
“We ask the European Union to intervene,” Kikilias declared, emphasizing that Greek maritime boundaries also represent European borders.
Turkish authorities had not provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
Greek authorities have established restricted fishing zones within the Aegean Sea, several of which Turkey has disputed as beyond the country’s legal authority. Athens filed formal protests last year regarding a Turkish maritime spatial plan that established designated areas for fishing and additional activities throughout the Aegean Sea.
The EU Commission indicated last year that coastal nations bear primary enforcement responsibility while it assists Greece through European Fisheries Control Agency patrols, satellite monitoring and inspection services.
Even amid these disagreements, both countries have maintained regular diplomatic discussions to examine possibilities for beginning negotiations to establish maritime boundary demarcations.
