Commission VP demands review of EU decision to trademark ‘Turkaegean’

European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas has sent a letter to Internal Markets Commissioner Thierry Breton demanding a review of a decision to approve Ankara’s request to trademark the term ‘Turkaegean.’

According to reports on Thursday, the Greek commission VP for Promoting the European Way of Life expressed his “intense disappointment” at the decision by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to allow Turkey to use the term for commercial purposes in a new tourism campaign.

Schinas warned of the “serious consequences” stemming from the decision while chiding EUIPO for failing to adequately publicize the request and its decision, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) reported.

He went on to demand that “in the future such decisions with a potential impact on our strategic interests not be taken without political consultation,” according to the AMNA. 

Greece has voiced its dissatisfaction that the European Union approved an application from Turkey designating a trademark “Turkaegean,” in touting Turkey as an Aegean destination, especially while the countries are dueling over rights to the seas.

Meanwhile, Greek Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis apologized on Thursday for his ministry’s failure to react in a timelier manner to Turkish moves to trademark the term ‘Turkaegean.’

“I will do everything to prevent it,” he said in comments to state radio ERT, responding to criticism after it emerged last week that the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) approved Turkey’s request in December to use the term for commercial purposes, with effect until July 2031.

Turkey also applied for the trademark in the United States but was turned down, provisionally.

Georgiadis said that he has ordered an internal inquiry into why the competent authorities failed to pick up on Turkey’s request and the EUIPO’s decision earlier.

Addressing concerns that Turkey’s move has deeper connotations at a time of heightened tensions with Greece, the minister argued that the use of the term ‘Turkaegean’ is purely for commercial purposes and has no political significance.