Libya’s House of Representatives, based in Benghazi, unanimously ratified on 20 October the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding with Türkiye on maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. The vote also cancelled 2020 resolutions that had rejected the deal and severed political ties with Ankara.
The agreement, first signed with Libya’s then-Government of National Accord, sets a boundary linking Türkiye’s southern coast with eastern Libya. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision, stating it protects mutual rights under international law and equity principles.
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a joint statement the same day. They expressed deep regret and restated the EU’s 2019 position: the deal “infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and is null and void.” The statement reaffirmed solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and opposed outside interference in Libya.
Greece and Cyprus have consistently rejected the MoU for ignoring Greek islands, including Crete, and conflicting with UNCLOS. The eastern parliament’s endorsement does not change the EU’s stance.
We deeply regret the ratification today by the Libyan Parliament of the so-called Libyan-Türkiye Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 20, 2026
We recall that the EU’s position on this matter was clearly stated by the… pic.twitter.com/f1XIX8HCRk
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