Intervention in Parliament on the systematic presence of Turkish fishing boats entering Greek territorial waters without permission in all lengths and widths of the Aegean Sea, submitted by the MPs, the Sectoral Heads of Shipping & Island Policy and Foreign Affairs of SY.RIZ.A.-PS, Alexandros Meikopoulos and Rena Dourou.
As stated in the Question: «Dozens of Turkish fishing boats, about 30, were spotted in Greek waters, where they stayed from 30/06/2025 for at least 5 hours, from Kythera to Serifos, Milos, Kythnos, Tinos, Syros, within a stone's throw from the shores of the islands, as recorded in videos of residents and confirmed by the electronic platforms that show the movements of the ships in the Aegean.».
As in a similar incident in the summer of 2021 under the ND government, Turkish fishing vessels entered and remained in Greek territorial waters, without informing the competent Greek authorities, while there was no apparent presence or control by Coast Guard vessels.
Residents and fishermen in the areas complained that some of these vessels were fishing within the Greek coastal zone.
The reaction of the Ministry of Shipping, which was limited to a subsequent and laconic reference to «a visit due to bad weather», is considered inadequate and at the same time provocative for such a serious issue..
According to the national and EU legislation, only commercial vessels licensed under the Greek flag are entitled to engage in commercial fishing in Greek territorial waters. Third country fishing vessels may only transit our national territorial waters when specific conditions are met, in which case they must inform the Greek authorities, and shall not in any case be authorised to fish.
The MEPs stressed that: The undisturbed, provocative fishing by Turkish fishing vessels systematically challenges the sovereignty of Greece, contributing to and serving Turkey's revisionist narrative of the “Blue Homeland”.
The protests of Greek fishermen against the warlike practices of Turkish fishing boats cannot continue to be ignored.
Systematic illegal fishing by Turkish fishing vessels contributes to overfishing and violates not only national but also the relevant European legislation.
Continued tolerance in the name of «calm waters» undermines national sovereignty, challenges Greek fishermen and weakens our country's standing in the Aegean.
- They called on the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Shipping & Island Policy and Rural Development & Food to give clear answers on the conditions of the entry and stay of Turkish fishing boats in Greek territorial waters.
- With what measures will the government respond to the repeated Turkish practice and prevent any practical challenge to our maritime sovereignty?;
- Will it raise, within the framework of the EU Council of Agriculture & Fisheries Ministers, the issue of the systematic violation of European legislation on illegal, illegal, unregulated fishing by third countries and sustainable fishing rules by Turkish fishing vessels operating illegally within Greek territorial waters?;
