Greece and Egypt have agreed to initiate negotiations to extend their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) agreement eastward in the Eastern Mediterranean, amid ongoing tensions with Turkey and Libya over maritime boundaries. The decision was reached during a phone conversation between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, where both nations also rejected Libya’s recent ratification of a maritime memorandum with Turkey.
The existing maritime boundary agreement between Greece and Egypt, signed in August 2020, established an EEZ between the 26th and 28th meridians. The proposed extension aims to cover waters east of the 28th meridian, an area that includes the island of Rhodes. This move comes in response to Libya’s endorsement of its maritime agreement with Turkey, which has further complicated regional disputes over maritime jurisdiction.
Athens and Cairo argue that islands should be factored into the determination of maritime boundaries, a principle they claim is not adequately recognized in the Turkish-Libyan memorandum. As Greece and Egypt pursue the extension of their EEZ, technical consultations are expected to commence shortly to facilitate the discussions.
Greece has expressed intentions to bring the matter of the Turkish-Libyan agreement to the attention of the European Union and the United Nations, urging for a coordinated international response. Despite these efforts, Turkey maintains the validity of its agreement with Libya, asserting that external assessments cannot nullify the memorandum.
The initiative by Greece and Egypt underscores the ongoing disputes over maritime jurisdiction and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, with both countries seeking to secure their interests in a region marked by complex geopolitical dynamics.