Subject: Türkiye’s reaction to the completion of Greece’s mandatory maritime spatial planning
Maritime spatial planning is a key tool for ensuring the sustainability of marine resources and promoting the sustainable development of marine areas and maritime economies. The establishment and implementation of maritime spatial planning is an obligation imposed on Member States pursuant to Directive 2014/89/ΕU1, but the deadline for complying with that obligation expired on 31 March 2021. In a period of significant challenges in the Mediterranean, which fall within the area of various critical EU policies, and despite the transposition of the directive into Greek law in 20182, Greece has not completed the establishment of its maritime spatial planning and has already been referred to the European Court of Justice3. In April 2024, the Greek Government announced that it would set up two marine parks, in the Aegean and the Ionian, in application of European law. However, Türkiye is strongly opposing the completion of Greece’s maritime spatial planning, calling on it to refrain from fulfilling its obligations under the above-mentioned directive4.
In view of this:
1. Can the obligation to establish and implement maritime spatial planning pursuant to Directive 2014/89/ΕU be suspended due to external threats by third countries – in the present case, by Türkiye?
2. What measures does the Commission intend to take to bring about the completion and protection of maritime spatial planning in all those Member States that have not yet completed it?
3. How will it support Greece against the Turkish threats concerning its failure to comply with the obligations under Directive 2014/89/ΕU?
Submitted: 6.1.2025
1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32014L0089
2 Law 4546/2018, Greek Government Gazette I/101 of 12.6.2018
3 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/el/ip_23_6345
4 https://www.dw.com/el/%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BA%CE%AF%CE%B1-
%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%AC-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1- %CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%B8%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1- %CF%80%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BA%CE%B1/a-68786294, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/dialogue- cooperation-way-to-prosperity-for-future-generations-of-turks-greeks-turkish-foreign-minister/3386898
Answer given by Mr Kadis on behalf of the European Commission
(21 February 2025)
1. The Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive (1) does not provide exemptions to the obligation to submit a maritime spatial plan by 31 March 2021. Therefore, under the MSP Directive the obligation to establish maritime spatial plans remains applicable irrespective of the existence of challenges regarding the delimitation of maritime zones with a third State. As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission ensures that all EU law obligations are complied with. An infringement procedure (2) against Greece for failure to adopt and submit maritime spatial plans has been referred to the Court of Justice and is now pending judgment.
2. As guardian of the Treaties, the Commission may take enforcement action in any case of non-compliance by a Member State with its obligations under EU law, including by pursuing infringement procedures. The Commission is committed to supporting Member States in completing their maritime spatial planning obligations. The Commission also engages in dialogue with Member States to address any challenges they may face in implementing the directive.
3. The Commission remains available to provide technical and financial support to facilitate the implementation of the maritime spatial planning acquis.
1 1https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32014L0089
2 2Law 4546/2018, Greek Government Gazette I/101 of 12.6.2018
3 3https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/el/ip_23_6345
4 4https://www.dw.com/el/%CE%B7-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BA%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B9%CE
%B4%CF%81%CE%AC-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%B8%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B9%CE %B1-%CF%80%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BA%CE%B1/a-68786294, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/dialogue-cooperation-way-to-prosperity-for-future- generations-of-turks-greeks-turkish-foreign-minister/3386898 1 ∙ ⸱
Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning. 2 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringements-proceedings/infringement_decisions/? langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2021)2226&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate