The announcement of Greece’s maritime spatial planning (MSP), as part of the development of a National Spatial Strategy for Maritime Space (NSSMS), and, most importantly, the accompanying map, had been repeatedly signaled by the government at various stages.
The decision to proceed with its immediate implementation is also tied to the broader context of Greek-Turkish relations, which are currently strained due to Ankara’s confrontational stance on the issue of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), the energy link between Greece and Cyprus.
It is no coincidence that, as soon as news of the forthcoming MSP announcement spread, Turkey issued similar statements of its own, rooted in its expansionist Blue Homeland doctrine.
For Athens, the maritime spatial planning initiative is primarily an exercise in asserting jurisdiction and projecting the country’s sovereign rights.
The map closely mirrors the so-called Seville Map of 1997, which outlines the maximum possible extent of Greece’s maritime zones. That is, it reflects the full legal effect of all Greek islands, including Kastellorizo. The extension of the territorial sea to 12 nautical miles remains an inalienable right for Greece in the future, though the map is designed based on a 6-nautical-mile limit.
It is also drawn in line with the terms of the full exclusive economic zone (EEZ) delimitation with Italy and the partial one with Egypt.
In short, it represents an official portrayal of the maximum extent of maritime rights that Greece could claim in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
This spatial planning initiative is entirely separate from the designation of marine parks in the Aegean, which is a distinct process.
The MSP – a project with which Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has been personally involved since the beginning of his tenure – constitutes the minimum expected of any Greek government in asserting the country’s maritime rights.
If Ankara views its role as that of a regional enforcer, the spatial planning initiative could become a new source of tension in the near future.
However, if Turkey is genuinely interested in finding ways to resolve its disputes with Greece, the MSP could present an opportunity for serious negotiations.
