Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for an urgent global maritime truce at a UN Security Council debate on 29 October, saying commercial vessels should be protected in all conflicts. He condemned the attack on the Greek-owned Contship Jet, which sank off Bulgaria earlier that day. [1][2]
Mitsotakis said attacks and disruptions raise shipping and insurance costs and ultimately increase consumer prices. He said maritime security would also be a priority during Greece's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027. [1][2]
ContextThe proposal follows the European Council's 16 October condemnation of attacks on commercial vessels in Bulgarian and Romanian economic zones and its demand for safe Black Sea passage. Responsibility for the Contship Jet attack remained unresolved at the review cutoff. [3][2]
Added Greece's UN call for a global maritime truce after the Contship Jet sinking and its stated economic and EU-policy rationale.
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EU leaders demand safe Black Sea passage after ship attacks
The European Council condemned recent attacks on commercial vessels in Bulgarian and Romanian economic zones and called for the immediate restoration of safe passage in the Black Sea.
The European Council condemned recent attacks against commercial vessels in Bulgaria's and Romania's exclusive economic zones and called for the immediate restoration of safe passage for civilian and merchant shipping in the Black Sea.
In conclusions adopted on 16 October, EU leaders described the attacks as unacceptable and a serious violation of international and maritime law. They also reaffirmed the strategic importance of freedom of navigation and of the EU–Ukraine Solidarity Lanes for grain exports.
ContextThe same conclusions attributed a broader campaign against Ukrainian ports, export facilities and vessels to Russia. Responsibility for individual recent strikes near Bulgaria and Romania has remained disputed in national reporting, with some officials withholding a definitive attribution.
Washington says it will help address obstacles to the €1.9 billion interconnector, whose seabed surveys remain entangled in Greek-Turkish maritime disputes.
