Greece is preparing to brief its European Union partners next week on the maritime boundaries of its marine parks, using maps that Athens says demonstrate violations of international law by Turkey.
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is expected to present the material during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland. The Greek Foreign Ministry has prepared comparative maps showing the marine parks announced by Greece alongside areas recently designated by Turkey.
Greek officials say the documents demonstrate that Greece acted in accordance with international law, while Turkey’s declarations breach several international provisions. The maps will be accompanied by written documentation outlining Athens’ concerns and are intended to inform EU partners and allies about what Greece considers a series of Turkish provocations.
Athens has also formally protested to Ankara through a diplomatic demarche.
The briefing comes as tensions between Greece and Turkey have risen again. On Thursday, a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle reportedly entered the Athens Flight Information Region and violated Greek national airspace.
According to the report, the UAV flew between Samothraki and Limnos, prompting Greece to scramble two F-16 fighter jets. Turkish military aircraft, UAVs and drones have reportedly increased their activity in recent months following a prolonged period of relative calm.
Separately, a scheduled flight from Alexandroupoli was delayed after radar operators detected an unidentified flying object.
The European Commission said it is closely monitoring developments surrounding Turkey’s announcements concerning the two marine parks. Responding to questions in Brussels, the Commission called for respect for international law and continued efforts toward de-escalation in the region.
The Commission also stressed that Turkey is expected to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all EU member states.
Addressing Parliament, Gerapetritis said communication with Turkey should continue, arguing that dialogue can help prevent tensions from escalating into broader crises.
He added that Ankara’s reactions are linked to Greece’s initiatives to safeguard its sovereignty and sovereign rights.
