Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias described the tabling of the bill for the extension of the coastal zone in the Ionian Sea as a historic moment for the exercise of an inalienable right of Greece.
“The tabling of the bill to the Parliament for the extension of the coastal zone in the Ionian Sea is a historic moment for the exercise of our country’s inalienable right, based on International Law and the International Law of the Sea,” Dendias posted on Twitter.
“The bill confirms Greece’s strategy to seek agreements with neighboring countries, always based on international law, promoting security and prosperity in the region,” he added.
It is reminded that a bill to “establish the width of the territorial zone in the marine area of the Ionian and the Ionian Islands to Cape Tainaron of the Peloponnese” was tabled in Parliament on Friday by the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The bill extends Greek territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea, and its first reading is scheduled at committee level on January 12 (Tuesday).
Its second reading will take place on January 15, and on January 19 it will be introduced to the plenary for debate and voting.
Parliament Speaker Constantine Tassoulas said that because the bill extends the country’s borders, he will exercise his right to call for a roll-call vote on it, so that an absolute majority vote is demonstrated clearly.