In response to the statements made by several politicians on possible concessions of territorial waters to France, we point out that they are completely unfounded.
The bilateral agreement of March 2015 was not ratified by Italy and therefore cannot produce legal effects.
The maritime borders with France therefore remain unchanged and no one, neither in Paris nor in Rome, intends to change them.
In relation to the date of 25 March, the French Embassy in Rome informs that it simply relates to “a public consultation within the framework of the preparatory concertation of a strategic document” on the Mediterranean that makes reference to existing European directives and law and that is in no way aimed at “modifying the maritime borders in the Mediterranean”. The Embassy recognises that “the maps circulated in the public consultation contain some mistakes (especially the demarcations laid down under the Caen Agreement, which was not ratified by Italy)”, adding that “they will be corrected as soon as possible”.
Lastly, we inform that the bilateral consultations that the EU regulations schedule at regular intervals will soon be held for the sole purpose of improving and harmonising the management of marine resources between bordering Countries within the current regulatory framework.
