At an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Karpathos, former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis emphasized the importance of Greek-Turkish relations, stating unequivocally, "I do not question anyone's patriotism."
This statement distances him from the stance of Antonis Samaras, whose positions led to his removal from New Democracy.
Karamanlis advocated for Greece to submit its maritime spatial planning to the European Union, aligning with an EU directive. He emphasized this as a crucial opportunity to have Greece's maritime rights acknowledged by the EU. He proposed declaring an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Aegean based on the median line, in line with Law 4001/2011 and the International Law of the Sea. Karamanlis asserted that such a declaration aligns with international law and would not hinder ongoing negotiations.