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Greece and Italy have signed an important agreement today, Tuesday 09 June. The agreement was on the delimitation of maritime zones between the two countries, known as of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The agreement has certainly been concluded on the basis of UNCLOS (delimitation of maritime zones on the basis of bilateral agreements).
The deal was signed by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio, who arrived in Athens in the morning.
The agreement is effectively an extension of a previous maritime borders deal from 1977. Concerns about fishing rights within the Ionian Sea which were addressed by Rome also brought the two countries together for further agreements.
“The design started in 2004,” said Syrigos, adding that “when the initial agreement to demarcate the continental shelf with Italy (’77) was signed, it was a time of crisis in Greek-Turkish relations. We wanted an agreement with a neighbouring state and (the agreement) sent a message.”
This Agreement confirms the right of the islands in maritime zones, as well as the middle line of the 1977 agreement on the delimitation of the continental shelf between Greece and Italy as a boundary of the Greek-Italian EEZ. Under today’s agreement, this middle line will also apply to offshore watersheds.
The Joint Statement of Greece-Italy on the Resources of the Mediterranean was also signed today. With this statement, the two states express their commitment to a balanced and sustainable management of these resources and agree to hold consultations to assess the impact of various factors on the current practices of the fishermen of the two states. (Sustainable management)
Finally, a Joint Notification was signed to the EU Commission, requesting that the two states amend the regulation on common fisheries policy so that, when Greece decides to extend its maritime zone to 12 nm, it can be maintained. the existing fishing activity of Italian fishermen in the area between 6-12 n.m., which is now international waters. The self-evident importance of the reference to the Common Notice of the right to expand everywhere in our coastal zone is particularly emphasized.
The existing rights of Italian fishermen are clearly but now limited, both in terms of the number of boats and in terms of the species that can be caught and the species caught by Greek fishermen are excluded.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for a similar agreement with Albania, Egypt and Cyprus.
“The agreement today encourages also the next one,” deputy government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni said adding that “this development is very important and positive for the country.”
It should be noted that an EEZ agreement with Egypt is more complex than with Italy or Albania, due to Turkey, Cyprus and Israel.
It should be recalled that Turkey signed an EEZ agreement with Libya in November 2019, that deliberately divides the eastern Mediterranean Sea and without previous consent of the other neighboring countries as the International Law of the Sea provides.
source:- Ethnos.gr & Skai.gr
