Türkiye declares EU maritime maps ‘null and void’

Türkiye declares EU maritime maps ‘null and void’

‘EU has no authority to comment on maritime disputes between sovereign states,’ says Turkish Foreign Ministry statement

Türkiye on Saturday declared the EU’s Maritime Spatial Planning maps of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas to be “null and void” with “no legal effect.”​​​​​​​

“We will not allow the violation of Türkiye’s rights with this Planning,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“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 statement added.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also said unilateral attempts by the EU “undermine the efforts to find a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the interrelated Aegean issues,” emphasizing that problems should be solved “on the basis of international law and good neighborliness.”

Türkiye has repeatedly stressed that its issues with Greece, its Aegean neighbor, should be handled between the two countries, not through the EU or any third countries.​​​​​​​