Türkiye welcomes Libyan decision on maritime MoU; EU ‘strongly regrets’ it
The EU said the 2019 memorandum infringes on the sovereign rights of third states and is null and void, while Ankara said it is based on international law.
HPA News Desk İstanbul time
Attributed
Türkiye welcomed a decision adopted on Oct. 20, 2026, by Libya’s House of Representatives on the memorandum of understanding delimiting maritime jurisdiction areas between the two countries, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The memorandum, in force since 2019, “safeguards the mutual rights and interests of both countries on the basis of international law and the principle of equity,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that it contributes to deepening cooperation between Türkiye and Libya. Türkiye will continue to work with all partners to foster trust, stability and peace in the Mediterranean basin, according to the statement.
The European Union said it “strongly regrets” the ratification of the memorandum by Libya’s House of Representatives on Oct. 20. In a statement on behalf of the EU on Oct. 21, the bloc’s high representative said the memorandum “infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States and does not comply with the Law of the Sea,” adding: “It is null and void and cannot produce any legal consequences for third States.”
The EU said its position, set out in European Council conclusions in December 2019 and reiterated in June 2025, is “firm and clear.” It said it has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and urged all countries to respect the sovereign rights of all member states in accordance with EU and international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
