Greece and Egypt have agreed to initiate negotiations on expanding their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) agreement in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to discussions between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. This decision comes against a backdrop of renewed tensions involving maritime claims by Turkey and Libya.
The current maritime boundary agreement, signed in August 2020, establishes an EEZ between Greece and Egypt from the 26th to the 28th meridians. The proposed talks aim to extend this agreement eastward beyond the 28th meridian, which passes through the island of Rhodes. These efforts are part of a broader strategy by both nations to address complex regional maritime disputes.
The Greek and Egyptian foreign ministers also reaffirmed their opposition to Libya’s ratification of a maritime memorandum with Turkey. They argue that this agreement disregards the principle of including islands in maritime boundary determinations, which they assert is crucial for fair regional demarcation.
In response to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, Greece intends to engage with the European Union and the United Nations to seek a coordinated international response. Meanwhile, Turkey maintains that its agreement with Libya is valid and dismisses criticism from third parties.
Technical-level consultations between Greece and Egypt are anticipated to commence shortly, as both countries seek to progress on the proposed boundary extension. This initiative underscores the ongoing challenges and geopolitical tensions related to maritime jurisdiction and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean region.