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Turkey on Saturday berated the European Union over the bloc’s Maritime Spatial Planning maps of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas which show the borders of Greece’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending the full 200 nautical miles beyond the nation’s territorial sea.
Greece has yet to officially declare an EEZ in the Aegean due to its dispute with Turkey over its extent.
“The EU has no authority to comment on maritime disputes between sovereign states. The EU’s involvement in such initiatives makes it more difficult to resolve these disputes,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the map in question is “null and void” with “no legal effect.”
“We will not allow the violation of Türkiye’s rights with this Planning,” the ministry continued, adding that unilateral attempts by the EU “undermine the efforts to find a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the interrelated Aegean issues.”