Libya’s planned Crete surveys south of the island have prompted a Tripoli note verbale warning Athens that continuing the work may pause maritime border talks.
The note, dated August, protests hydrocarbon exploration in seas not yet delimited between the two countries, Proto Thema reported on Tuesday.
US firm Chevron is preparing to start work in blocks south of Crete. That timing makes Libya’s surveys a significant factor for toece’s energy plans.
Tripoli also objects to a Greek invitation for tenders published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 August.
The notice confirmed a 30 June Gazette entry. Under it, HEREMA would grant a licence for seismic work south of Crete, the Peloponnese and the Ionian Sea.
“Such actions may negatively affect the course of bilateral negotiations,” the Libyan note said, according to the paper. It also raised the risk of a pause in the talks.
Libya Crete surveys and MoU
Libya argues the moves violate its continental shelf as declared to the United Nations on 27 May 2025.
The Turkish-Libyan memorandum still shapes Tripoli’s map. Some Greek blocks overlap areas that the memorandum assigns to Libya, the report said.
Tripoli also presses claims built on closing the Gulf of Sidra and denying full effect to islands such as Gavdos.
Energy stakes at sea
Libya urges Greece to avoid provocative acts. At the same time it seeks to lock the Turkish-Libyan memorandum into the talks, Proto Thema said.
Greek City Times earlier reported that Cyprus gas is set for first export to Europe via Egypt and Greece, another Eastern Mediterranean energy strand.
Primary law texts are available in the Official Journal of the European Union. The UN lists continental-shelf filings on the UN Division for Ocean Affairs.
Delimitation talks between Athens and Tripoli continue. Still, Libya-Crete surveys remain contested after the August note.
Source: Proto Thema
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