Current Political Developments Between Turkey and the European Union in the Eastern Mediterranean Conflict and Its International Law Aspect

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean conflict has recently become one of the major issues regarding international relations of Turkey. Developments between Turkey-the Northern Republic of Cyprus bloc and Greece-the Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus (TGASC) bloc, have become a significant subject both for the coastal states of the Eastern Mediterranean region and the member states of the European Union (EU). Focusing on the use of international agreements as the primary means of delimitating the maritime zones has brought about a fevered rush among Eastern Mediterranean coastal states seeking to conclude agreements as quickly as possible. The evidence after the conclusion of the agreements indicates that there may well be overlapping maritime zones in the region. Turkey has announced that the agreements concluded between TGASC under the name of the Republic of Cyprus and certain other states have been deemed invalid by Turkey. This article will analyze the primary legal and political reasons for this Eastern Mediterranean conflict as well as current political developments between Turkey and the EU on the subject. Moreover, the boundaries determined by the agreement on the delimitation of the maritime zones between Turkey and Libya concluded in 2019 are located in the exclusive economic zone claimed by Greece. The EU has announced strict economic and political sanctions against Turkey, siding with Greece. This EU attitude may affect the negotiations and outcome. Given that TGASC and Greece are parties to the dispute, the core of the problem is to what extent islands will affect the delimitation of the maritime zones. At this point, equitable principles should and are applicable also to the islands. Finally, the ultimate principles that will apply to the dispute in question are discussed in the final section of the article.