The European Parliament’s plenary session was voted for last Wednesday, the Commission’s proposal for a pact for the seas and oceans.
The Pact was welcomed by the MEP and a member of the Environment Committee European parliament, Nicolas Farantourisboth during its processing to the committee responsible and in its vote in this week.
The SYRIZA MEP requested the provisions of the pact for the seas to become binding as soon as possible.
Addressed to the competent Commissioner K. Kadi He called for “the pact to acquire a compulsory nature for the protection of the environment and biodiversity, the safety of navigation, the sovereign rights of the Member States and the coastal communities and populations”. This will also be “the EU’s response to Turkey’s threats and pseudoles,” the Greek MEP concluded.
As Mr. Farantouris explained, speaking on the issue on ERT’s “Is in Europe” show, since the seas pact acquires compulsory, with binding forecasts, another tool for a practical shielding of national sovereignty, based on the European acquis.
“In the face of the inexplicable Turkish claims, Greece can be shielded not only by international law but also with the European acquis.”
“When the EU comes, for example, And he tells Greece that you have not only the right but also an obligation to post the maps for maritime spatial planning, then this space is a place of European sovereignty. ”
“The sea gave birth to democracy and culture – the answer to the pseudo -rockets of Turkey”
In his speech in the plenary of the European Parliament, Mr Farantouris said:
“I come from a Mediterranean country and belong to a nation that the sea is the reason for its existence. But isn’t the same for all of Europe? The open seas gave birth to democracy, tolerance, leniency, solidarity, world culture. ”
🌊 The sea gave birth to democracy & our culture. I seek compulsory protection of seas, navigation, sovereign rights and coastal communities.
⚠️ This will be the 🇪🇺 response to Turkey’s threats and pseudoles. pic.twitter.com/iLJ6ohufVH
– Nikolas Farantouris / Nikolas Farantouris (@nfarantouris) June 17, 2025
What is the European Oceans Pact (‘European Oceans Pact’)
The European Oceans Pact was presented by the European Commission at the UN Conference on the Oceans in Nice, June 9-13, 2025 and then came to the European Parliament this week in Strasbourg. Its aim is to enhance the cohesion and sustainable management of EU maritime policies.
It is not official legislation, but a political initiative.
That is, it is a political agreement without an automatic binding result for Member States. However, it may support existing legislation:
It will operate in parallel with the legislative proposal “Ocean Act” in order to align and implement existing instructions more effectively (eg for spatial design and fishing).
The Pact is a political framework for commitment and practical cooperation, but not legally binding agreement. As Commissioner Kadis said, his actual power depends on his implementation and his association with the upcoming legislation (Ocean Act). However, it reinforces the cohesion of EU maritime policies and can act as a “fuel” for actions with legal effect. MEP and Professor of European Law Nicholas Farantouris called for “to accelerate the compulsory acts of derivative law before 2027”, directly linked to the shielding of Greece’s sovereign rights and all Member States in the sea.
The MEP had supported the immediate and complete training of maritime spatial planning and maritime parks in our country under international and European law, while in a relative question to the Commission last November, the Commissioner had not only responded to the Greek Commissioner.