The Prime Minister met this morning with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis, at Maximos Mansion.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the new European Oceans Pact, an initiative of the European Commission that is expected to be announced at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance Greece attaches to the protection of oceans and seas, as well as maritime security, which is also a priority for Greece during its tenure as an elected member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term.
The issue of illegal fishing and the threat it poses to marine biodiversity was also discussed.
At the beginning of their meeting, the Prime Minister and the Commissioner had the following dialogue:
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Two days ago, on May 28, we celebrated the 46th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession of our country to the then European Communities, so our common European future is not just a point of reference, but also a guarantee of security and prosperity for our two countries.
I am especially pleased that we have been given the opportunity to discuss an extremely interesting and, I dare say, critical portfolio that you have taken on, and I think that this meeting is taking place at a very interesting time, as in just over a week we will be in Nice for a very important international conference.
This is the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and it is an opportunity at both national and European level to promote our positions on a comprehensive approach to the governance of oceans and seas.
Greece, as you know, is one of the first countries to have recently ratified the United Nations Convention on Marine Biological Diversity, and we will submit the instruments of ratification to the UN before the Nice Conference. It is an agreement which, as you know and have said, is a historic milestone for the protection of the seas and oceans.
And, of course, we have taken steps to resolve some outstanding issues from the past -as you are well aware- regarding maritime spatial planning, bringing us fully into line with European legislation. You have been informed of our recent decisions.
And, of course, Greece wants to be at the forefront of protecting the unique biodiversity of Greek seas by creating new protected areas, restricting fishing that causes significant damage to the marine environment within protected areas, and implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce plastic in our seas.
We are both countries surrounded by sea, and we see our marine ecosystem not only as part of our identity, but also as an obligation to protect it for future generations.
Therefore, I would like to welcome you once again and I am looking forward to our discussion with great interest.
Costas Kadis: Thank you very much, Mr Prime Minister, for your introductory remarks and for your hospitality. I would also like to thank the ministers of your government, with whom we have already begun a constructive collaboration.
I fully recognize the importance of my portfolio’s responsibilities for Greece. We all know that the maritime element is an integral part of the country’s identity. We know the importance of the sea for the sustainable development of the country, and I want to stress that you can rely on the assistance that the European Commission can provide so that Greece can implement all these policies that are intertwined with sustainable development.
Beyond that, I would also like to welcome and express my satisfaction with a series of initiatives that Greece has taken recently and which are related to my responsibilities and my portfolio.
I would like to welcome the ratification of the Convention on the Conservation of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, an extremely important agreement, and express my satisfaction that Greece was among the first countries to ratify the Convention.
Moreover, I would like to express my satisfaction and congratulate you on the initiatives you have taken in relation to marine protected areas. Given the way you have announced them and the prospects as outlined, I believe that these areas can serve as a model for other European countries.
Beyond that, I would like to express my satisfaction with the step taken by Greece in relation to maritime spatial planning and say that this step leads to harmonization with the relevant directive, the maritime spatial planning directive, which fully respects the sovereign rights of Member States and their jurisdiction over maritime waters, as derived from International Law and, in particular, from United Nations Law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
I want to assure you that I personally and the European Commission services will be at the disposal of the Greek government to complete this planning, but above all to implement it.
We have a very important initiative ahead of us, as you have mentioned. We are in the final stages of drafting the Oceans Pact, which will be announced by President von der Leyen at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice.
And I believe it will be a milestone for the rational management of our oceans, so that we can protect biodiversity and our marine ecosystems on the one hand, and on the other hand, harness the enormous potential that the oceans can offer in the context of blue growth.
Therefore, I would also like to thank you and look forward to continuing our discussion.
