Exclusive economic zone

Athens and Rome are expected to sign an agreement delimiting an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Greece and Italy on Tuesday.

The deal will be signed at a meeting in Athens between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, after concerns expressed by Rome were addressed and resolved, mainly concerning fishing rights in the Ionian Sea.

Speaking of upcoming investments in Elefsina and Alexandroupoli, US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt has stressed that American companies are ready to co-produce new frigates for the Hellenic Navy.

Turkish authorities have made parceling of the economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean under a deal sealed with Libya, and Ankara is getting ready for drilling activities in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on June 3.

As Turkey pushes to expand its influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has urged Ankara to respect the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus.

The Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding (MoU) relating to maritime zones "cannot as a legal matter affect the rights or obligations of third states" such as Greece, a US energy official said on Tuesday during  a virtual roundtable discussion on the Eastern Mediterranean and the trilateral partnership between Greece, Cyprus and Israel.

Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, on Tuesday urged Turkey to respect the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus.
Asked about Turkish plans to begin hydrocarbon exploration near Greek islands, Borrell said said the EU was monitoring developments while being "in close contact" with Athens and Nicosia.

An article by Vassilis Nedos which appeared in Kathimerini's Sunday edition on May 10, titled "Ankara's militarization on Athens' radar," refers to Rear Admiral Cihat Yayci's book "Requirements of Greece: The Problems in the Aegean with Questions and Answers," which was published recently by the Turkish Navy.

Turkey has reacted to a joint statement by EU foreign ministers condemning its violation of Greek airspace and territorial waters as well as Ankara's "illegal" plans to drill inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The foreign ministers of the European Union condemned on Friday the violation of Greek airspace and territorial waters by Turkey and Ankara's drilling plans in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) during a teleconference.

Ankara on Tuesday described the bloc comprising Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an attempt to create an "axis of malice" led by France.