Ankara accuses Athens of attempting to enforce an unrecognized exclusive economic zone in the Eastern Mediterranean through the EU’s maritime spatial planning platform

Maria Damanaki on Greece’s green transition, energy politics, and the risks of inertia in the Aegean

Minister Stavros Papastavrou added that 'the exercise of our sovereign rights is up to us and no one else, truly, no neighbor has a say in how our country exercises its sovereign rights,' when asked about designating marine parks

One of the two “marine parks” unveiled last week by a state-run agency in the country delimitates a marine park west of the only two major islands possessed by Turkey in the Aegean, and beyond Turkish territorial waters

Athens criticized Ankara’s announcement of marine protected areas in “non-delimited zones beyond Turkish territorial waters.”

The process of planting requires taking fragments of Posidonia that have been uprooted from boat anchors and cultivating them within the short period of time that they remain alive

This marine conservation initiative places Greece at the forefront of marine biodiversity protection in the Mediterranean, while attempting to balance environmental priorities with traditional livelihoods and sustainable development

A foreign ministry statement underlined that marine parks are established with purely environmental criteria, and that specific ones have been established in areas under Greek sovereignty

Turkey dismissed Greece’s marine park plan as legally irrelevant for disputed islands and announced it will unveil its own marine conservation initiatives in the coming days

The Ionian and southern Cyclades regions — selected for the new parks — are known for their rich marine biodiversity and cultural significance

Turkey's version of an Aegean planning map regurgitates Turkish claims and ignores any influence of dozens of Greek islands as well as UNCLOS provisions; filed with UNESCO

State-run news agency and a pro-government daily in Turkey convey annoyance over coming designation of marine park in south Aegean; possible tit-for-tat announcement by Ankara cited

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will represent Athens at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) on Monday, held in the French Riviera resort city of Nice

The large and unified marine park in the Ionian Sea is reportedly far along in terms of studies, technical aspects; south Aegean park more fragmented

Last year, the Greek government took the stage as a self-declared guardian of the seas. These grand declarations now float like driftwood in shallow waters

Greek PM Mitsotakis efers to halt to provocations in the Aegean over the past 12 months, a curb on human trafficking and an express visa process for 10 islands

The Greek PM himself made the announcement from Brussels on Thursday, while he also responded to a question on Athens' intent to create a marine park in the central Aegean, an environmental initiative

Athens will continue to unequivocally support the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the country within the framework of foreign policy principles, the ministry replies