Energy Resources, Delimitation of Maritime Zones and Conflict Resolution in the Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean region has been recently the hotspot of the energy sector, as well as the field of current and potential interstate disputes over the delimitation of the maritime zones and the subsequent rights of exploitation of the discovered energy resources. The aim of this research is to study the current status of the delimitation of maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean, by further examining the energy reserves and the implications that these might have on the conflict resolution and the security questions in the region. More precisely, the main research question of this dissertation is how the energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean can or cannot address the security questions that concern multiple states in the region and if and how a possible way forward could be envisaged taking into account the role of the European Union and the United States.