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 George Skafidas

The map released today clearly depicts Greece's demarcations and claims. In this sense, it could serve as a basis for negotiations to resolve our only dispute with Turkey, which

ΗGreece had the obligation, based on the European directive 2014/89/EU of 23 July 2014, to draw up maritime spatial plans, which should have been ready three years ago, by March 31, 2021. The delay in preparing these plans by the Greek side actually resulted in Referral of Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union in December 2023… All this, however, is now a thing of the past since, despite any delays, The completion of the Greek maritime spatial planning is now a fact, a fact which in fact "notified" not only to the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the EU and the "27", but also to neighboring Turkey, which has its own –competitive to the Greek– spatial planning aspirations in Aegean and Mediterranean.

"The country's Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) was issued today at the initiative of Ministry of Environment and Energy in partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant ministries", we read in the relevant official announcement. "This is an important initiative, as for the first time our country sets the rules for the organization of marine space [...] With the Marine Spatial Planning and the National Spatial Strategy for Marine Space, the Greek State for the first time delimits detailed uses of its marine zones."

What is Marine Spatial Planning?

According to the relevant European directive, Maritime Spatial Planning means:the process by which the authorities of the relevant Member State analyse and organise human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives».

Maritime Spatial Planning aims, according to what is stated on the European Commission website, to: organization of human activities in marine areas in such a way as to achieve the objectives of sustainable development of marine economies, sustainable development of marine areas and sustainable use of marine resources. The Greek map depicts the outermost potential limits of the Greek continental shelf and EEZ in the Mediterranean, based on the median line and the Maniatis law (4001/2011), limits which lead the Greek EEZ to the corresponding Cypriot one, recognizing the influence of Kastelorizo ​​and Strongyli.

In principle, Maritime Spatial Planning does not touch upon issues of defense, national security and national sovereignty. "This Directive does not affect the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of Member States over maritime waters, which derive from the relevant provisions of international law, in particular from UNCLOS. In particular, the implementation of this directive does not affect the delimitation and delimitation of maritime zones by Member States, in accordance with the relevant provisions of UNCLOS", we read in the relevant European directive of 2014.

When we are talking, however, about maps that depict boundaries over disputed maritime zones, then the "implied" aspects of national jurisdiction are given and the messages to neighbors are obvious, while the boundaries of the most remote national claims are "implied".

Maximou: What does the announcement of the maritime spatial planning mean – 7 questions and answers

The official map – released today by the Greek side as part of the presentation of the Greek MSP – “does not constitute an EEZ delimitation"as government sources clarify. However, it is step forward since indeed closes pending matters, without this of course meaning that it can in practice prejudge the results of future delimitations.

The Greek map shows the outermost potential limits of the Greek continental shelf and EEZ in the Mediterranean, based on the median line and the Maniatis law (4001/2011), limits which lead the Greek EEZ to the corresponding Cypriot one, recognizing the influence of Kastelorizo ​​and StrongyliIn other words, anyone who wants to see the official Greek claims reflected, claims that take as their basis the full influence of the mainland and the Greek islands in the demarcation of maritime zones, no longer needs to refer to the "unofficial" relevant map of the University of Seville.

Angelos Syrigos: Why Greece's maritime spatial planning is important

The map of the Greek MSP could not, of course, be missing the maritime delimitation agreements that Greece has signed with Italy (1977, 2020) and Egypt (20200.

The map released today aims to clearly depict what Greece has and what it claims, and in this sense, it could serve as a basis for negotiations to resolve our one and only difference with Turkey, which is the delimitation of the EEZ and continental shelf. As noted on the map in question, the outer limits of the Greek continental shelf are defined based on the median line "until the conclusion of delimitation agreements with neighboring states whose coasts are adjacent to or opposite the Greek coasts».

It is now clear that Greece and Turkey will come to these negotiations, if and when they take place, juxtaposing very different, conflicting, mutually negating and overlapping maps.

Turkey's first "response" to Greece's Maritime Spatial Planning (map)

Until recently, however, the ones that were widely circulated were Turkey's expansive maps (of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum and the so-called "blue homeland"), while the Greek side limited itself to denouncing and repeating the median line, which, however, was not reflected on an official Greek state map (the Seville map and the maps that were occasionally circulated in the Greek media could not have the "weight" of the map published today).

Why this announcement from the Greek side now?

First of all, the preparation of a Marine Spatial Planning by Greece was not simply a choice but an obligation towards the EU, an obligation whose completion had been delayed and had to be completed before the new deadline at the end of April.

Beyond that, however, it certainly contributed to conjuncture.

As is known, the Turkey prepares its own maritime spatial planning plans, which it even links to its expansionist/revisionist claims "blue homeland", the division of Aegean, the illegal expansion of the Turkish EEZ until Libya and the maritime zones of the pseudo-state.

However, the neighbor has attempted, at the same time, to cancel Greek plans on the ground (by sending warships to the Case in July 2024), which may repeat in the near future, putting its work in the spotlight again Greece-Cyprus electrical interconnection or any future hydrocarbon research.

On the other hand, however, the Turkey continues to inspire increasing suspicion in many Westerners (French, even Americans) and to contradict the Israel, with which Israel, however, the Greek side has very good relations.

The current geopolitical situation, decisively influenced by Trump's new presidential term, seems to "favor" displays of hard power and "predatory" claims.

Within such a context, however, no one has the luxury of sitting idly by.

The Greek Maritime Spatial Planning It constitutes a step towards further formalization, promotion, clarification and internationalization of Greek positions., but it does not say things that the Turkish side did not know, nor does it expand Greek claims beyond what anyone who follows Greek-Turkish relations would expect.

In this sense, however, any imminent Turkish reaction will be interesting, as it will reveal Ankara's intentions...