Greece urges EU intervention over alleged Turkish fishing violations

Greece has called on the European Union to intervene over what it describes as unlawful fishing and violations of maritime law by Turkish vessels in the eastern Mediterranean.

The issue was raised on May 15 during a meeting in Athens between Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias and EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis, Reuters reports.

“I've raised with the Commissioner a major issue for Greece regarding our fishermen and our fisheries and the provocative behaviour of our Turkish neighbours with regards to the unlawful fishing, the non-respect of the law of the sea, and the disputing of our sovereign rights,” Kikilias said.

“We ask the European Union to intervene,” Kikilias said, adding that Greek sea borders were also Europe’s borders.

Greece and Türkiye, both NATO allies, have been at odds for decades over maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean Sea, including the delimitation of continental shelves and fishing rights.

Athens has designated restricted fishing zones in the Aegean, some of which Ankara has contested, arguing they fall outside Greece’s jurisdiction. Last year, Greece also protested against a Turkish maritime spatial plan that outlined zones for fishing and other maritime activities.

The European Commission has previously stated that coastal states hold primary responsibility for enforcement, while the EU supports Greece through patrols coordinated by the European Fisheries Control Agency, satellite monitoring, and inspection mechanisms.

By Sabina Mammadli