The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, today signed four Ministerial Decisions concerning hydrocarbon exploration in the marine areas south of the Peloponnese (blocks “A2” and “South of the Peloponnese”) and south of Crete (blocks “South of Crete 1” and “South of Crete 2”).

As a vote of confidence in Greece's sovereign rights in the maritime zones south of Crete, the government welcomed the interest of the American energy giant Chevron in granting hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation rights.

Greece has firmly rejected accusations from Libya’s Foreign Ministry that Athens undermined regional stability by unilaterally opening offshore hydrocarbon blocks in the Mediterranean, asserting that it is merely exercising its sovereign rights under international law.