MEP Costas Mavrides challenges illegal Turkish maps in European digital spaces

On September 16, 2026, MEP Costas Mavrides (DIKO - S&D) formally intervened with the European Commission regarding the circulation of illegal maps on European internet platforms. These maps depict Turkey's unilaterally declared 'national marine parks' in the Northeastern Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean as Turkish jurisdictional zones.

Mavrides argued that these claims extend beyond Turkish territorial waters, violating international law and infringing upon the sovereign rights of Greece. The MEP highlighted that these digital maps, which misrepresent territorial boundaries, have been disseminated by companies and service providers operating within the European Union. He contends that this digital propagation of false claims undermines European and international legal standards.

The intervention serves as an official request for the European Commission to address the proliferation of this material. The ongoing issue stems from recent Turkish presidential decrees asserting control over maritime areas contested by Greece. The Commission is now expected to evaluate the complaint and determine whether further action against these platforms is required to uphold territorial integrity and legal transparency within the union.