Member State report: Greece / Art3-4

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2022-09-29
Report access EL_MSFD4GEO_202205.xml
Member state marine waters
The dataset contains boundaries (polygons) of marine waters as well as subregion and assessment areas boundaries within marine waters under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Republic. The dataset was created for reporting against the different elements required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Hellenic Republic's marine waters are described including the following: Territorial sea: Greece has established a territorial sea of 12 nm in the Ionian Sea by Law 4767/21 ("Establishment of the breadth of the territorial sea in the maritime area of the Ionian Sea and the Ionian Islands up to Cape Tainaron of the Peloponnese"). In the remaining part of the Greek territory, Greece has currently a 6 nm territorial sea (cf. Law 230 of 17 September 1936), while at the same time reserving the right to extend its territorial sea up to 12 nm (see article 1 of the above mentioned law 4767/21 as well as article two of law 2321/1995, ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured". Maritime boundary agreements: Regarding maritime boundary agreements conducted by Greece: a. The 1926 Greek-Turkish Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b. in the Dodecanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely the "Agreements of 4th of January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet of Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories" and, in execution of this agreement, the procès-verbal of 28th of December 1932; c. in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy conducted in 1977 an Agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf; d. Greece and Egypt conducted an Agreement on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone between the two countries (August 6, 2020). Upon entry into force of the Agreement, an Exclusive Economic Zone of Greece has been declared in that area, and e. in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy conducted an Agreement on the delimitation of their respective maritime zones (June 9, 2020). The boundary line of their respective maritime zones shall be the continental shelf boundary established under the 1977 Agreement between the two countries. Coastal waters: Coastal waters in accordance with the identification of Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) Coastal Water Bodies (CWBs). Aggregated Coastal Water Bodies (CWBs), as defined by the WFD monitoring program. The aggregation of CWBs in grouped oceanographic supra-units took place, considering the homogeneity of the hydrological and oceanographic characteristics of the individual water bodies (temperature, salinity, mixing characteristics, turbidity, transparency, depth, currents, wave action and nutrient levels), as well as the presence of nearby monitoring stations.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region "Mediterranean Sea" (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account Marine region/subregion hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization's "Limits of Oceans and Seas" (1953), "A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea" (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service's maps in combination with the marine waters determination. Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). These areas are used within the reporting obligations of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in order to link the implementation of different articles (MSFD articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14) to specific marine areas. They can be of varying sizes, according to the appropriate scale for the different reports (e.g. region, sub-region, regional or sub-regional subdivision, Member State marine waters, WFD coastal waters, etc.), as indicated in the Good Environmental Status 2017 Decision. These areas need also to reflect the boundaries of the marine regions and subregions which were agreed by the MSFD Regulatory Committee on 10 November 2016.
Subdivisions
Reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion. Moreover four (4) informally defined divisions and subdivisions within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central-South Aegean Sea; (iii) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii); (iv) the Levantine Sea. Within each region or subregion the relevant assessment scales include WFD coastal waters (CW), territorial waters (TeW), continental self (beyond TeW), subdivisions or MS marine waters as part of a region or subregion.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion. Moreover four (4) informally defined divisions and subdivisions within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central-South Aegean Sea; (iii) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii); (iv) the Levantine Sea. Within each region or subregion the relevant assessment scales include WFD coastal waters (CW), territorial waters (TeW), continental self (beyond TeW), subdivisions or MS marine waters as part of a region or subregion.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MAD EL SD_Subdivision MAD-EL-MS-AD
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion
MAD EL SD_Subdivision MAD-EL-MS-AD-TeW
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion - Territorial Waters (coastline to 6 or 12nm)
MAD EL SD_Subdivision MAD-EL-MS-AD-TeW part
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion - Territorial Waters from Coastal Waters (1nm to 6 or 12nm)
MAD EL SD_Subdivision MAD-EL-MS-AD-TeW-CW
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion - Coastal Waters
MAD EL SD_Subdivision MAD-EL-MS-AD-beyond TeW
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion - beyond Territorial Waters (offshore from 6nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-AE
Hellenic Republic's marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Aegean Sea
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-CSA
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – Central and South Aegean Sea
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-CSA-TeW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Central and South Aegean Sea - Territorial Waters (coastline to 6 or 12nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-CSA-TeW part
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – Central and South Aegean Sea - Territorial Waters from Coastal Waters (1nm to 6 or 12nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-CSA-TeW-CW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – Central and South Aegean Sea - Coastal Waters
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-CSA-beyond TeW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – Central and South Aegean Sea - beyond Territorial Waters (offshore from 6nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-LE
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Levantine Sea
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-LE-TeW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Levantine Sea - Territorial Waters (coastline to 6 or 12nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-LE-TeW part
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Levantine Sea - Territorial Waters from Coastal Waters (1nm to 6 or 12nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-LE-TeW-CW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Levantine Sea - Coastal Waters
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-LE-beyond TeW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion - Levantine Sea - beyond Territorial Waters (offshore from 6nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-NA
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – North Aegean Sea
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-NA-TeW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – North Aegean Sea - Territorial Waters (coastline to 6 or 12nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-NA-TeW part
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – North Aegean Sea - Territorial Waters from Coastal Waters (1nm to 6 or 12nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-NA-TeW-CW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – North Aegean Sea - Coastal Waters
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-AA-NA-beyond TeW
Hellenic Republic’s marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion – North Aegean Sea - beyond Territorial Waters (offshore from 6nm)
MAL EL SD_Subdivision MAL-EL-MS-AL
Hellenic Republic's marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion
MIC EL SD_Subdivision MIC-EL-MS-IO
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion
MIC EL SD_Subdivision MIC-EL-MS-IO-TeW
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion - Territorial Waters (coastline to 6 or 12nm)
MIC EL SD_Subdivision MIC-EL-MS-IO-TeW part
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion - Territorial Waters from Coastal Waters (1nm to 6 or 12nm)
MIC EL SD_Subdivision MIC-EL-MS-IO-TeW-CW
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion - Coastal Waters
MIC EL SD_Subdivision MIC-EL-MS-IO-beyond TeW
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion - beyond Territorial Waters (offshore from 6nm)
MED EL SD_Subdivision MS-EL
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Mediterranean Sea region
Region/ subregion
Art. 8 countries involved
Art. 8 nature of coordination
Art. 8 regional coherence
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
Art. 9 countries involved
Art. 9 nature of coordination
Art. 9 regional coherence
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
Art. 10 countries involved
Art. 10 nature of coordination
Art. 10 regional coherence
Art. 10 regional coherence problems

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2013-04-29
Report access MICGR_MSFD4Geo_20130430.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MIC EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MIC-EL-MS-IO
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion
Region/ subregion
MIC
Art. 8 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2013-04-29
Report access MALGR_MSFD4Geo_20130430.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-AE
It constitutes the assessment area Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-CA
It constitutes the assessment area Central Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-LE
It constitutes the assessment area Levantine Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-NA
It constitutes the assessment area North Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-SA
It constitutes the assessment area South Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MAL-EL-MS-AL
Hellenic Republic's marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion
Region/ subregion
MAL
Art. 8 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2013-04-12
Report access MADGR_MSFD4Geo_20130415.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MAD EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MAD-EL-MS-AD
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion
Region/ subregion
MAD
Art. 8 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2013-04-12
Report access MICGR_MSFD4Geo_20130415.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MIC EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MIC-EL-MS-IO
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion
Region/ subregion
MIC
Art. 8 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2013-04-12
Report access MALGR_MSFD4Geo_20130415.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-AE
It constitutes the assessment area Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-CA
It constitutes the assessment area Central Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-LE
It constitutes the assessment area Levantine Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-NA
It constitutes the assessment area North Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-SA
It constitutes the assessment area South Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MAL-EL-MS-AL
Hellenic Republic's marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion
Region/ subregion
MAL
Art. 8 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2012-10-15
Report access MADGR_MSFD4Geo_20121015.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MAD EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MAD-EL-MS-AD
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion
Region/ subregion
MAD
Art. 8 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2012-10-15
Report access MALGR_MSFD4Geo_20121015.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-AE
It constitutes the assessment area Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-CA
It constitutes the assessment area Central Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-LE
It constitutes the assessment area Levantine Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-NA
It constitutes the assessment area North Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL AA_AssessmentArea MAL-EL-AA-SA
It constitutes the assessment area South Aegean Sea belonging in the subregion Mediterranean sea:Aegean-Levantine sea
MAL EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MAL-EL-MS-AL
Hellenic Republic's marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion
Region/ subregion
MAL
Art. 8 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
CY, ,
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Greece
Report date 2012-10-15
Report access MICGR_MSFD4Geo_20121015.xml
Member state marine waters
Reporting under the MSFD is conducted using the following: Territorial sea: Greece has currently a 6 n.m. territorial sea (c.f. Law No. 230 of 17 September 1936) whilst at the same time has reserved its right to extend its territorial sea to the maximum permissible breadth under international law, i.e. 12 n.m. Continental shelf: According to article 2, par. 1 of Law No. 2289/1995 "on prospecting exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other provisions", as amended by Law No. 4001/2011: "In the absence of a delimitation agreement with neighboring States, whose coasts are opposite or adjacent to the coasts of the Hellenic Republic, the outer limit of the continental shelf and of the exclusive economic zone (once declared) is the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baselines (both continental and insular) from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Maritime boundary agreements: a) The 1926 Protocol of Athens delimits the lateral boundary between Greece and Turkey seaward of Evros river; b) in the Dodekanese area, the boundary is delimited by the two 1932 agreements between Italy and Turkey, to which Greece is a successor State, namely, the "Agreement of 4th January 1932 concerning sovereignty over islets between the coasts of Anatolia and the island of Castellorizo, as well as over the islet Kara-Ada and on the delimitation of the territorial waters surrounding the said territories and, in execution of this agreement, the process verbal of 28th of December 1932; c) in the Ionian Sea, Greece and Italy concluded in 1977 an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf, and d) in 2009, Greece and Albania signed an agreement on the delimitation of their continental shelf and other maritime zones to which they are entitled under international law.
Region / subregion description
Hellenic marine waters lie within the marine region ‘Mediterranean Sea’ (Art. 3.1). Furthermore, marine waters occupy parts of three subregions identified in the Directive, namely: the Adriatic Sea; the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; the Aegean-Levantine Sea. The delineation was based on the existing data in international literature regarding the above referred limits, as well as taking into account hydrological, oceanographic and biogeographic features. For the geometric boundary delineation multiple sources were used, including the International Hydrographic Organization’s “Limits of Oceans and Seas” (1953), “A new bathymetric chart and physiography of the Mediterranean Sea” (Carter, G.T. et al, 1972), Hellenic Navy Hydrographic Service’s maps in combination with the marine waters determination, as described in the Member State section of the sheet.
Subdivisions
No formal subdivisions have been identified.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Hellenic Republic's seascape encompasses a huge variety of physical, chemical etc. conditions. In order to take into account these specificities, assessment areas have been defined. The delineation was made in order to implement the Directive by reference to areas at the appropriate level of the marine waters (taking into account the need to define ecologically relevant regions, to support the ecosystem-based approach mandated by the Directive). The delineation was made in a manner compatible with Article’s 4(2) context in conjunction with criteria defined in Article 3. Additionally, Directive’s overall framework was taken into account, meaning that the initial assessment will be followed by the GES determination, monitoring programs and program of measures. For the delineation the sources used in the Region/Subregion section were used , in combination with the marine waters definition, as described in the Member State section of the sheet. Consequently, reporting will be conducted for a) the MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion; b) the MS marine waters part of the Adriatic Sea subregion, c) the MS marine waters part of the Aegean-Levantine subregion and d) for five (5) informally defined assessment areas within the MS marine waters of Aegean-Levantine subregion, namely: (i) the North Aegean Sea; (ii) the Central Aegean Sea; (iii) the South Aegean Sea; (iv) the Aegean Sea (union of i,ii,iii); (v) the Levantine Sea. At this stage, the target is to achieve consistency in areas used, taking into account future implementation of the Directive.
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
MIC EL MS_MarineWatersPartRegionSubregion MIC-EL-MS-IO
Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion
Region/ subregion
MIC
Art. 8 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 8 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 8 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 9 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 9 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.
Art. 10 countries involved
, , IT
Art. 10 nature of coordination
At the present stage, emphasis and effort have been given on collecting, processing and encoding the information available, also evaluating data published from neighboring states, in order to establish a concrete framework regarding the initial assessment, the determination of good environmental status for the waters concerned. This way, the establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators can be set under further discussion with neighboring states, taking into account the complete series of available resources. In any case, the development and implementation of marine strategies is a continuous and dynamic process that requires ongoing cooperation between the parties involved.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Incomplete
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
No specific problems encountered.