20.10.2026 21:21
The House of Representatives in eastern Libya approving the Memorandum of Understanding on the Delimitation of Maritime Jurisdiction Areas in the Mediterranean signed with Turkey in 2019 enraged Greece. In a statement by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was said, "We reject the decision. The said memorandum of understanding disregards the rights of the Greek islands regarding maritime jurisdiction areas. We call on the Libyan side to avoid all actions that undermine stability in the Eastern Mediterranean."
Libya's House of Representatives approved the memorandum of understanding signed between Libya and Turkey in 2019 on the determination of maritime jurisdiction areas. In a statement by Libya's House of Representatives, it was stated that the House convened in Benghazi.
LIBYA SIGNED THE AGREEMENT
In the statement, which noted that the House of Representatives unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 between the Government of National Accord and Turkey on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean, the following statements were included:
"The House of Representatives also unanimously annulled House of Representatives Decision No. (1) of 2020 regarding the rejection of the approval of the two memoranda of understanding signed between the Government of National Accord and the Turkish government."
REACTION FROM GREECE DID NOT TAKE LONG
A harsh reaction came from Greece to Libya. In a statement by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the following statements were included: "Greece rejects the decision of Libya's House of Representatives to approve the so-called Turkish-Libyan memorandum of understanding dated 2019 on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas.
This decision does not change the unlawful, invalid and null and void nature of the memorandum of understanding, which conflicts with the international law of the sea and violates the sovereign rights of the states of the region. Geography and the international law of the sea cannot be changed by unilateral parliamentary decisions lacking a legal basis.
"THE RIGHTS OF THE GREEK ISLANDS ARE BEING IGNORED"
Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coasts that could constitute a legal basis for the initiative to delimit maritime jurisdiction areas. Furthermore, the said memorandum of understanding also ignores the rights of the Greek islands with regard to maritime jurisdiction areas under UNCLOS and international customary law.
Greece has signed agreements with Egypt and Italy on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in accordance with the international law of the sea and has demonstrated its respect for international law and the sovereign rights of neighboring states.
We call on the Libyan side to refrain from any action that is contrary to international law and undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece has already informed its partners and allies and will take all necessary steps to ensure the protection of its sovereign rights."
WHY IS GREECE OPPOSED?
Greece argues that maritime jurisdiction areas should be drawn starting from its own islands, including Crete. According to Athens, the memorandum between Turkey and Libya violates its exclusive economic zone southeast of Crete and ignores the maritime areas that should be recognized for the islands. The line established by the memorandum is said to be approximately 45 nautical miles from Crete.
Since Greece has no delimitation agreement with Libya, it bases itself on the median line between the two countries under a law it enacted in 2011. Athens argues that this approach is consistent with international law. Turkey, for its part, emphasizes that the memorandum is in line with international law, arguing that in cases where islands are close to another country's coast, full effect cannot be given to them and that the principle of equity must be observed.
Greece did not recognize the memorandum after it was signed and in 2020 signed its own maritime jurisdiction areas agreement with Egypt. In this agreement, part of the areas defined by the Turkey-Libya memorandum was shown as belonging to Greece.