Turkey Drafts Law Expanding EEZ Presidential Powers
Turkey Drafts Law on Expanded Presidential Powers Over Exclusive Economic Zones
Turkey is preparing new legislation that could grant the president the authority to unilaterally declare a 200-mile (320-kilometer) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to a report by Bloomberg.
The proposed framework would give the president expanded control over maritime economic rights, including fishing, mineral extraction, and offshore drilling in strategically sensitive waters.
The development comes amid ongoing regional disputes in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, where Greece and Cyprus maintain competing territorial and maritime claims.
The initiative is linked to the administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as part of broader efforts to strengthen Turkey’s legal and strategic position in maritime zones.
Key elements of the proposed legislation
- Authority to declare a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone
- Expanded control over offshore natural resources
- Regulation of fishing and energy exploration activities
The report notes that the initiative could further intensify regional tensions, given the overlapping claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, an area already marked by diplomatic disputes and energy exploration competition.
According to Bloomberg, the legislation is still under development and has not yet been formally adopted.
Officials have not yet issued a final statement, and the proposal may undergo further revisions before any parliamentary process begins.
