Corfu takes first step to coordinate opposition to drilling in Ionian Sea
WWF’s Blue Panda in the Mediterranean: a floating symbol of ocean protection, as the debate over drilling in the Ionian Sea is reignited. Archive photo
CORFU. An open assembly at the Corfu Workers’ Centre has launched mobilisations against plans for hydrocarbon exploration and drilling in the northwestern Ionian Sea, as preparations for exploratory drilling continue.
The discussion on hydrocarbon exploration in the northwestern Ionian Sea is entering a new phase, and in Corfu an effort is now underway to form a local front of opposition. An open meeting was held on Wednesday, June 10 at the Workers’ Centre, following an initiative by the Environmental Protection Association, with the aim of coordinating actions against plans for exploration and extraction in the area.
The meeting brought together members of the public, representatives of groups and organisations, who expressed concern over the potential environmental, economic, and social impacts that extractive activity in the Ionian Sea could have. It was noted that the local economy relies heavily on tourism, fishing, and activities linked to the marine environment, a fact which, according to participants, makes the issue of its protection particularly critical.
The meeting took place at a time when developments surrounding the so-called “Block 2” in the northwestern Ionian Sea are ongoing. In April, a contract was signed that paves the way for exploratory drilling, while the consortium holding the concession is moving forward with the second phase of surveys, with the prospect of carrying out the first drilling in four decades in 2027.
According to the Environmental Protection Association, the goal is not merely to record opposition, but to move “from simple and harmless protest to blocking every plan for offshore hydrocarbon exploration.” Participants stressed that this initiative is only the beginning of a broader campaign of information and mobilisation, aiming to expand participation across every part of the island.
“We are not letting our guard down. This was only the beginning, and the continuation must come with even larger gatherings and mobilisations,” the Association’s statement notes, emphasising that “the protection of the Ionian Sea is everyone’s responsibility.”
As part of the event, the documentary “Water and Oil” was also screened with permission from The Press Project, for which the organisers expressed their public thanks.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
