Aegean Dispute: Sharing Funds Amidst Firm Stance
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EU Funds distribution and Turkey’s SAFE participation Stalled
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October 26, 2023 - Updated October 26, 2023 at 02:01:32 UTC
EU Allocates Billions in Pre-Accession funds
The European Union has allocated substantial pre-accession funds to several countries, totaling over €15 billion. Southern Cyprus received €1.181 billion, while Greece was allocated €787 million, according to reporting on October 26, 2023. Denmark and Poland are slated to receive the largest portions of the overall funding, with €46 billion and €43 billion respectively. Other significant recipients include Hungary, France, and Romania (€16 billion each), Italy (€14 billion), and Belgium (€8 billion).
Political Obstacles to turkey’s SAFE Participation
Turkey’s potential participation in the Security assistance Framework for Ukraine (SAFE) is currently blocked due to a long-standing dispute with Greece concerning maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea. Nikos hristodulidis,President of the Greek Cypriot Management of Southern Cyprus,stated after attending the European Council meeting that the position opposing Turkey’s inclusion in SAFE has been adopted. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis echoed this sentiment, stating Turkey cannot join SAFE unless it rescinds its 1995 “Casus Belli” declaration. Mitsotakis indicated a willingness to revisit the issue if Turkey changes its stance, but does not anticipate such a change in the near future.
Understanding ‘Casus Belli’
The term ‘Casus Belli’ (Latin for “cause of war”) refers to a 1995 Turkish parliamentary decision declaring that any Greek attempt to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea beyond 6 nautical miles would be considered an act of war. Anadolu Agency provides a detailed overview of the history and context of this declaration. The dispute stems from differing interpretations of the 1923 Treaty of lausanne, which established a 3-nautical-mile territorial water limit for both countries. Greece unilaterally extended its limit to 6 nautical miles in 1936, and Turkey followed suit in 1964. Greece has repeatedly attempted to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, a move Turkey views as a violation of international law and a threat to its interests in the aegean.
The potential expansion of Greek territorial waters would considerably impact Turkish naval access and resource exploration rights in the Aegean Sea, explaining the strong Turkish response. The issue remains a major source of tension between the two countries, hindering broader cooperation and impacting regional stability.
SAFE Program and EU Security Initiatives
The Security assistance framework for Ukraine (SAFE) is a European Union initiative designed to provide sustained military assistance to Ukraine.