EU High Representative Kallas addresses Turkey's maritime park declarations

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has reiterated that all member states' sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction must be respected in accordance with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This statement was made in response to an inquiry by Manolis Kefalogiannis, President of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, regarding Turkey’s declaration of illegal ‘maritime parks’. These areas extend beyond Turkish territorial waters and encompass Greek continental shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and territorial waters, thereby violating Greek and European sovereign rights.

The European Union has repeatedly called on Turkey to exercise restraint and refrain from unilateral actions that could escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The EU emphasizes the importance of good neighborly relations, international agreements, and the peaceful resolution of disputes to ensure regional stability.