Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-003013/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Maria Zacharia (NI)
As a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Greece has the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, pursuant to Article 3 UNCLOS. It exercised this right in the Ionian Sea in 2021.
However, this right remains unenforced in the Aegean and south of Crete. Its exercise there is critical, as it would disconnect Türkiye from Libya and invalidate any alleged maritime adjacency. The so-called Turkey–Libya Memorandum of Understanding (2019), concluded without recognition of Greek sovereign rights, violates international law and undermines the territorial integrity of an EU Member State.
Türkiye continues to threaten Greece with war (casus belli) should it exercise this legitimate right, flagrantly violating the UN Charter. This threat affects not only Greece but the EU as a whole, undermining sovereignty, stability and the lawful exploitation of marine resources within EU jurisdiction.
- 1.How does the VP/HR assess the threat of force against a Member State exercising a lawful right?
- 2.What action will the VP/HR take to uphold international law, support Greece in exercising its right, bring the issue before the Foreign Affairs Council and promote a clear stance of solidarity among Member States?
- 3.Does the VP/HR consider continued cooperation with Türkiye to be compatible with EU values, given these threats and violations?
Submitted: 19.7.2025