Protect Corfu and the Ionian Sea — Stop the Planned Offshore Drilling

To the Prime Minister of Greece, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, and the relevant Greek and European authorities

We, the undersigned residents, visitors, friends of Corfu and people connected to the Ionian Islands, call for the immediate suspension of the exploratory offshore drilling planned for February 2027 in “Block 2” of the northwestern Ionian Sea.

The proposed deep-water exploration well, known as “Asopos-1,” is part of a project involving Energean, ExxonMobil and HELLENiQ ENERGY. Its location lies west of Corfu, within the living marine environment of the Ionian Sea—an ecosystem that supports dolphins, sea turtles, other marine species, local fishing communities and an island economy deeply dependent on its clean waters, natural beauty and sustainable tourism.

The Ionian Sea is not an empty industrial zone. It is a shared natural heritage and a living ecosystem whose protection concerns residents, neighbouring countries and the many thousands of people from around the world who visit, work on and care for Corfu.

Before any drilling proceeds, the public deserves complete transparency and meaningful participation. The possible environmental, seismic, climatic, economic and transboundary consequences must be examined independently and made publicly accessible. Emergency-response capacity and the long-term implications for marine life, coastal communities, fisheries and tourism must be assessed with the highest level of scrutiny.

At a time of accelerating climate change, investing further in new fossil-fuel infrastructure risks locking Greece and the wider region into additional decades of hydrocarbon dependency. Corfu and the Ionian Islands deserve an energy future based on conservation, resilience and genuinely renewable alternatives.

We therefore call upon the competent authorities to:

Immediately suspend all permits and preparations for exploratory drilling in Block 2.
Publish all relevant environmental studies, permits, risk assessments, emergency-response plans and monitoring data in a form accessible to the public.
Conduct an independent and comprehensive environmental and climate assessment, including cumulative and transboundary impacts on the wider Ionian and Adriatic marine ecosystem.
Guarantee meaningful public consultation involving local communities, municipalities, environmental organisations, scientists, tourism professionals, fishers and citizens of neighbouring countries.
Ensure full compliance with Greek constitutional protections, European environmental law and all applicable international agreements concerning biodiversity, marine protection, public participation and access to environmental information.
Prioritise renewable energy, ecosystem protection and sustainable local development over new offshore fossil-fuel extraction.

Many of us return to Corfu year after year. Some live here, some work here, some have family and lifelong friendships here, and others carry a profound connection to its landscape, communities and sea. Although we come from different countries, our concern is shared.

We sign because decisions affecting the Ionian Sea must not be taken without the informed participation of the people whose lives, livelihoods and future are connected to it.

The sea cannot speak in a courtroom or at a public consultation. We can.

Protect Corfu. Protect the Ionian Sea. Stop the drilling before it begins.