Greece’s Development Ministry on Wednesday ordered an administrative inquiry to clarify why it was never informed in advance by the relevant officials about Turkey’s successful effort to register the term “Turkegean” with the Office of the European Union for Intellectual Property (EUIPO).

The EUIPO granted the mark last December to the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency. It will remain valid until July 2031. Ankara coined the term “Turkegean” in a tourist campaign to describe the “coast of happiness”.

The ministry said the issue was never brought to the attention of Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis or the ministry by the relevant officials stationed at the country’s national trademark office or on secondment to EUIPO, so that he can “take timely and appropriate political, diplomatic and official action”. ”

The investigation will focus on any wrongdoing by employees of the former Trademark Directorate of the General Secretariat of Commerce of the Ministry of Development and Investment, the ministry added.

On Tuesday, government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said Greece would appeal against EUIPO’s decision to approve Ankara’s request.