Greece is stepping up efforts to revive negotiations with Albania over the delimitation of maritime zones, with Defense Minister Nikos Dendias set to visit Tirana next week for high-level talks aimed at restarting a process that has remained stalled for years.
During his visit, Dendias is expected to meet Albanian Defense Minister Ermal Nufi and Prime Minister Edi Rama. The central objective of the trip is to put back on track a bilateral initiative first agreed in October 2020, when both countries announced their intention to refer their maritime boundary dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Athens and Tirana are seeking to capitalize on what Greek officials describe as a positive phase in bilateral relations. The effort comes in the wake of a recent visit by Rama to Greece and within the broader framework of Greece’s support for accelerating the European Union accession process of the Western Balkans.
At the heart of the discussions is the preparation of a formal agreement that would allow the two countries to submit their dispute over the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to international adjudication.
The process was interrupted following a negative ruling by Albania’s Constitutional Court, which halted progress and left the issue unresolved. Greek officials believe, however, that conditions may now be more favorable for a restart. According to sources, Albanian President Bajram Begaj appears willing to authorize the technical talks required to move the process forward.
Both sides will still need to overcome a number of procedural hurdles. One of the main challenges remains Albania’s limited technical capacity to support the complex legal and diplomatic work required for a case before The Hague, a factor that could slow progress despite political willingness on both sides.
Greek officials have indicated that technical assistance could be provided as part of Athens’ broader commitment to support Western Balkan countries in meeting their European integration goals.
Further diplomatic contacts are expected in June, when Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis is scheduled to visit Tirana for a ministerial conference focused on support for Ukraine and security in Southeast Europe. The meeting is also expected to provide opportunities for additional bilateral discussions, including on Albania’s EU accession path and regional issues.
Greek officials view progress on the maritime dispute as a potential example of how neighboring countries can resolve longstanding disagreements through legal and diplomatic means, while strengthening regional stability and cooperation.