Rejecting the persistent demand for Crete’s union with Greece, the Congress of Berlin issued a special protocol in the summer of 1878. It called for the full implementation of the Organic Law in Crete, alongside several amendments favouring the Christian community. Negotiations continued until October, culminating in the drafting of the Pact of Halepa, named after the suburb of Chania where it was signed.

The new framework introduced proportional rather than equal representation in the Assembly, granting 49 seats to Christians and 31 to Muslims, and significantly expanded the Assembly’s powers. Preference for public service positions was to be given to local residents, while the island’s gendarmerie would include members of both communities.

On economic matters, the Pact aimed to establish a more efficient tithe collection system and reduce various tax burdens. Additional provisions included the separation of judicial and executive powers, the use of Greek in Assembly proceedings, bilingual issuance of public documents, and the rights to form associations and publish newspapers in Greek.