Greece has claimed an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with a total size of , which is the 53rd largest in the world.
Geography
Greece forms the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea. It includes many small islands which vary between 1,200 and 6,000 in the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea. The largest islands are Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. The term archipelago originates from the Aegean Islands. Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Greece's EEZ is bordered to the west by Albania and Italy, to the south by Libya and Egypt, and to the east by Turkey and Cyprus.
+ EEZ Area of Greece Territory km2 sq mi Notes Total 505,572 195,202
Agreements
On 8 June 2020, Greece signed an agreement with Italy, establishing an EEZ between the two countries and resolving longstanding issues over fishing rights in the Ionian Sea.Greece, Italy sign accord on maritime zones in Ionian Sea | Reuters. www.reuters.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
On 6 August 2020, Greece signed an agreement with Egypt designating an EEZ in the Eastern Mediterranean between the two countries.Egypt and Greece sign agreement on exclusive economic zone | Reuters. www.reuters.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020. Both agreements are in line with Greece's claimed EEZ as per UNCLOS 1982 as well as customary international law.
In October 2020, Greece and Albania agreed to refer their EEZ boundary delimitation to the International Court.
Of the remaining neighbouring countries, Greece is yet to sign EEZ boundary agreements with Libya, Turkey and Cyprus.
Disputes
Turkey does not recognize that islands possess a legal continental shelf or EEZ beyond their territorial waters, arguing that such zones should be measured from the continental mainland and that islands on the "wrong side" of a median line should be ignored.
Gas pipeline projects
There are published maps that describe the course of the gas pipeline which will transfer gas produced by American Νoble Εnergy Ltd. from the Leviathan reservoir to Europe, through an undersea pipeline (EastMed pipeline) crossing Greece. The mining and operating part will be undertaken by an American company.Israel Recognizes Greek Exclusive Economic Zone | News from Greeks in Africa, Asia, and South America . World.greekreporter.com (23 February 2011). Retrieved 23 July 2013. By this proposal, Israel offers an advantage that Greece can use during negotiation procedures to support its claims on the area. In practice, this cooperation will set up an energy coalition between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.
See also Egypt-Greece relations Greece-Italy relations Greece-Libya relations Greece-Turkey relations 2018 Cyprus gas dispute Cyprus problem Cyprus–Turkey maritime zones dispute Exclusive economic zone of Italy Imia/Kardak Libya (GNA)–Turkey maritime deal Libyan Sea
References