Brussels reiterated the need to respect the sovereign rights of EU member-states and expressed “zero tolerance” towards illegal fishing, commenting on a request by Greece to step in and stop the violation of maritime law by Turkish fishermen in the Aegean Sea.
“The discussion on maritime space is directly linked to international law and the EU’s strategic interest in a stable and secure Mediterranean, where the sovereign rights of member states are fully respected. This also concerns incidents of illegal, clandestine and unregulated fishing,” European Commission spokesperson Maciej Berestecki told Kathimerini.
“The Commission’s position, as reflected in the recent Pact for the Mediterranean, is clear: zero tolerance towards illegal, clandestine and unregulated fishing and firm respect for the sovereign rights of member states,” he added.
Greek Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias had brought up the issue in a meeting with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, last Friday in Athens.
“I’ve raised with the Commissioner a major issue for Greece regarding our fishermen and our fisheries and the provocative behavior of our Turkish neighbors 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,” he added, noting that Greek sea borders were also Europe’s borders.
