Xenophon Paper 2 pdf - ICBSS

The Black Sea region has been an area where national interests and policies of Greece
converge with those of the EU to a high degree. The European element has thus been
dominant in Greece’s Black Sea policy. Facing northward, the Greek policy towards its
Black Sea neighbours shares elements of its Balkan policy and it is based on:
- actively encouraging bilateral economic relations in the form of trade and investment
- supporting the EU aspirations of the countries of the region
- promoting the creation of a regional economic area
The bilateral dimension
It comes as no surprise that two of the most important countries in terms of their relative
weight in Greece’s foreign policy considerations are in the region: namely Russia and
Turkey. The development of bilateral relations with Russia and Turkey (as well as the
development of Russian-Turkish affairs) filters Greece’s Black Sea policy.
Turkey is, and has long been, the main security threat in Greek perceptions due to
Turkish claims on the Aegean and the Cyprus problem. In view of relaxing security
concerns, Greece has adopted a proactive policy turning into the main advocate of
Turkey’s pro-European orientation, encouraging at the same time an intensified bilateral
interaction at the political, economic and social level. To a large degree, and despite
differences, both countries have found themselves working together in assisting the
economic transformation of their Black Sea neighbours. Their common understanding
on regionalism as a tool primarily for enhancing economic development and policy
dialogue and not as a security mechanism has facilitated Greek-Turkish cooperation within
the BSEC framework.
Parallel to the European process, Greece is working with Turkey in promoting their
economic relations. In the past seven years, an extensive framework of thirteen major
economic agreements has been completed covering all aspects of relations. Projects
and initiatives that are being implemented include: i) the natural gas pipeline starting
from Baku, going through Turkey and Greece to Italy, with construction already under
way; ii) the agreement to interconnect electricity networks in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria;
iii) the decisions to jointly construct a new bridge across the Evros, the frontier river
between the two countries, to jointly renovate the railroad connection, and to open new
maritime corridors between Greek and Turkish ports. 11
11 Skylakakis, Theodore (2007), ‘Economic Diplomacy: Greek Initiatives in Commerce and Conflict Prevention’,
Remarks at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 7 June. Available at http://www.wisloncenter.org.
70 UNFOLDING THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION VIEWS FROM THE REGION