The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a joint statement following the Libyan Parliament’s ratification of the Turkish-Libyan “memorandum.”
The two heads of the European institutions expressed “deep regret” over the ratification, on Tuesday, by the Libyan Parliament of the so-called Libya–Turkey memorandum of cooperation on the delimitation of maritime zones of jurisdiction in the Mediterranean.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
They also note that the EU’s position on the matter was clearly articulated by the European Council in 2019 and remains unchanged.
Costa and von der Leyen’s assessment of the agreement is particularly clear: “This agreement violates the sovereign rights of third states, is incompatible with the Law of the Sea, and is null and void.”
In closing, the two Presidents reiterate: “We reaffirm our solidarity with Greece and Cyprus.”
Finally, the statement emphasizes that the EU reiterates its well-known position against any external intervention in Libya.
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.
We recall that the EU’s position on this matter was clearly stated by the European Council in 2019 and remains unchanged. This agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, it does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and is null and void. We reaffirm our solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. We reiterate the EU’s well known position against any outside interference in Libya. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 20, 2026
