Greece has announced plans to revive an earlier proposal for an Eastern Mediterranean Forum, bringing together regional states — including Libya and Turkey — to discuss key issues from migration and environmental protection to maritime boundaries.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament that Athens seeks constructive engagement with all its neighbours “based on respect for international law, and especially the Law of the Sea.”
He said Greece would soon invite all coastal countries to a joint meeting under the new framework, adding: “We have nothing to lose by sitting at the table to defend our positions — always with the Law of the Sea as our reference point.”
Diplomatic sources said the forum would include Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt and Libya, focusing on five core areas: migration, marine environmental protection, maritime connectivity, maritime zone delimitation and civil protection. The Greek Foreign Ministry will study the forum’s feasibility and whether it could become a permanent platform.
The idea was first proposed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who said the aim was a fair distribution of Eastern Mediterranean resources. It resurfaced in 2020, when European Council President Charles Michel endorsed the concept during tensions over Turkey’s Oruç Reis research vessel.
The plan, however, stalled amid disputes over participation, the forum’s framework and the legal nature of potential commitments.