Opposition parties on Thursday voiced concerns as lawmakers reviewed legislation to ratify offshore hydrocarbon exploration contracts with Chevron and HELLENiQ Energy south of Crete and the Peloponnese.
PASOK warned some concession areas could infringe on disputed maritime zones with Turkey and Libya, while SYRIZA criticized the government for inconsistent energy policy, and the Communist Party called the deals a giveaway to a single multinational.
The government, represented by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou and ruling party spokesman Dimitris Markopoulos, stressed the contracts signal “confidence in Greece” and a path toward energy self-sufficiency.
Parliament is expected to vote on ratifying the contracts next week.