The Greek Parliament ratified on Thursday an International Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the BBNJ Agreement or High Seas Treaty.
The BBNJ is an implementation agreement under UNCLOS. Greece joins 52 states and the EU in the an alliance with high expectations, which has urged all states to conclude negotiations and adopt the BBNJ Agreement.
Instruments of ratification of the Agreement have so far been submitted by France and Spain from the EU, while Greece becomes the third EU member-state following the ratification of the Agreement by the Greek Parliament.
The Agreement has so far been signed by 112 states and the European Union (EU) and, following the vote in Greece on Thursday, has so far been ratified by 22 states. Internationally there is a push to speed up the ratification process by more and more states, some of which have publicly committed themselves to this, so that it can enter into force internationally as soon as possible.
The BBNJ Agreement was ratified by majority vote, with ruling New Democracy, main opposition PASOK-KINAL, left-wing parties SYRIZA and New Left. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) voted against, while the other opposition parties abstained.