15345 - The timing of the Greek Presidency

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Athena Kehagias

The timing of the Greek Presidency of the European Union is extremely appropriate and positive regarding the issue of the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone and especially its establishment. In 2004, Cyprus established its EEZ after joining the European Union. Thus Cyprus took advantage of the European framework to consolidate its decision and to ratify the delimitation of the EEZ with Egypt that had been signed in 2003. Our country after 1982 and 1995 has not made any official step , but with the Hydrocarbon Law 2289/1995 and its amendment of 4001/2011, it has began a de facto strategy allowing her to make an agreement with PGS company on seismic surveys in the Ionian and at the South of Crete. In 2013 Greece also agreed with Italy on launching consultations regarding the delimitation of the EEZ between the two countries. In other words, now there are objective data, which will be further strengthened by the dissecting of blocks. And these data form the foundations for the transition to the de jure stage. This stage, after the European Commission’s report, the vote in the European Parliament as well as the decision on financially supporting the EuroAsia Interconnector, constitutes now an action field that could be activated within the Greek Presidency of the European Union; and there is no reason for any delay. All those interested are now aware of our intentions and we must now use this to the benefit of our country. Also in cooperation with Cyprus and the developments in the hydrocarbons sector, we should coordinate in order to have a unified foreign policy of Hellenism. For these reasons we believe that we should use the timing of the Greek Presidency of the European Union.