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- 작성자 HIMEA
- 조회수 55
Greece’s Maritime Spatial Planning Announcement: Return of the Eastern Mediterranean Dispute?
On April 16, the Greek government officially unveiled its Maritime Spatial Plan (MSP) as part of the National Spatial Strategy for the Marine space. (NSSMS) Under this plan, Greece’s maritime area has been divided into four distinct spatial units. The initiative aims to implement tailored management aligned with regional administrative boundaries, balancing environmental protection, economic development, and national interests.
Legal Basis and Key Elements of the Maritime Spatial Plan
The Greek government stated that this plan complies with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the European Union Directive 2014/89/EU. It aims to systematically coordinate human activities at sea to promote sustainable development and protect marine ecosystems.
The plan covers areas such as climate-resilient marine ecosystems, sustainable tourism, protection of underwater cultural heritage (especially submerged archaeological sites), maritime transport infrastructure, energy development (offshore wind and gas), aquaculture, and fisheries. Additionally, based on this plan, joint infrastructure projects with neighboring countries may also be pursued.
Geopolitical Significance of the Maritime Spatial Plan
This plan marks the first time that the outer boundaries of Greece’s maritime sovereignty, including the waters surrounding all its islands, have been explicitly recognized in an official European Union document. This serves to strengthen Greece’s legal position in future maritime sovereignty disputes.
As a result, the European Union directive now has full effect in all areas defined by the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreements Greece signed with Italy and Egypt in 2020. Furthermore, the European Commission has released a map recognizing Greece’s maritime rights over all its islands, publicly affirming its strong support for Greece’s position in the interpretation of international law.
Turkey’s Response
Turkey reacted strongly and immediately condemned the announcement. It argued that Greece’s plan is a unilateral measure with no legal validity. Turkey emphasized that the plan infringes upon its maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and stressed that cooperation under international maritime law is essential in semi-enclosed seas.
Turkey announced it would develop its own maritime spatial plan and submit it to UNESCO and the United Nations. It is expected to assert maritime jurisdiction based on its “Blue Homeland (Mavi Vatan)” doctrine. Consequently, the dispute between the two countries over the Eastern Mediterranean is likely to reignite.
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