ATHENS – Two Greek members of parliament have submitted formal questions to government ministers over the testing of underwater surveillance technology in the port of Lavrio, following the publication of The Unseen Israeli Surveillance Network Under The Greek Sea, a cross-border investigation into the EU-funded UnderSec project.

The investigation revealed that between March and June 2026, the ports of Lavrio and Valencia hosted tests of the "Broadlink" underwater communications modem, developed by the Israeli state-owned defence company Rafael Advanced Systems and described by its manufacturer as "battle tested."

The investigative team found that no Special Ecological Assessment was submitted, despite Lavrio's location within the Natura 2000 protected site "Strait of Makronisos" and its proximity to the habitat of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

On 14 and 15 July 2026, MPs Elena G. Karageorgopoulou and a second lawmaker filed parliamentary questions addressed to the Ministries of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, National Defence, Environment and Energy, and Education.

Citing confirmation from the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA) that it had neither received an environmental assessment nor been consulted on the project, the questions ask which administrative acts authorised the tests, why the standard environmental procedure was bypassed, and what safeguards govern the data collected — particularly given the participation of the Israeli Ministry of Defence and Rafael in the project's Security Board.

The MPs have also formally requested that the ministries submit to parliament all permits and administrative acts approving the tests, any environmental studies or opinions considered, risk assessments covering hazardous or radioactive materials used during the trials, the cooperation agreements defining Greek public bodies' roles in UnderSec, and the technical or final reports from the Lavrio tests.

They further raised concerns about the ongoing privatisation of the Lavrio Port Authority, in which Israel Shipyards Industries — a supplier to the Israeli Navy — has expressed interest, and ask whether the government intends to review Greek public institutions' participation in the programme.

The Ministries have not yet issued a public response.

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Address to the Ministers, pointing out no environmental assessment was requested
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