N. Lygeros (OPUS)
Translated from the Greek [1] by Evi Charitidou
When we examine the Mediterranean Sea we realize that all its islands
are European and they do in fact belong to the Mediterranean. To this
effect the EU has the biggest EEZ in the Mediterranean. In addition,
this EEZ is coherent, which is substantial quality for routes of ships,
especially the LNG ones and what is more for natural gas or oil
pipelines. For long now the EU has been seeking for an energy source
different than the Russian and Azeri ones. Now with the deposits found
in Israel and Cyprus the EU has an access to them via Greece.
So, it is
not by chance that the EU supports both Cyprus extracting natural gas
and Greece proclaiming its EEZ. For, the combination of the two along
with Israeli requirements offers the possibility of deploying a
horizontal energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. This axis has very
strong geopolitical significance, extensions of which are not yet
conceived in our country. In this new framework the EU acquires
historicity, which is connected to its older history of course. And it
is on this historical background that we see diachronic mental schemata
traversing centuries. When we merely examine economic interests, due to
lack of strategy, we do not realize how deep our common history is.
However, when we study geopolitics of the region, we are obliged to
accept that geoeconomics do not define everything. There are more
profound elements displayed by topostrategy and operating as an open
structure. It is on this one that the EU has been based upon. And it is
not by chance of course that Croatia’s membership integrates the largest
EEZ of all former Yugoslav countries.
The topological and coherent
element minimizing borders and maximizing area at the same time
functions in an effective way as regards the EEZ issue as well.
Therefore, it is important to overcome our phobias, now that the
geopolitical given have radically changed by the proclamation of the EEZ
of Cyprus and the three agreements she reached with Egypt, Lebanon and
Israel. The opening still exists and we have to follow the path to
convince everyone that there is no need to exert pressure on us
regarding economic matters, since we offer large possibilities in the
energy sector. By declaring the Greek EEZ we give a signal to all that
we are not going to wait passively. We will effectively resist economic
pressure by showing that we pass to a new phase much more dynamic and
efficient to the benefit of the whole European Union, because this has
to do with growth and not just with economy.
----------
-------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
Only News