Türkiye–Libya memorandum: joint statement by five states and the EU
Gerapetritis delivered the statement of Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, Bahrain, the UAE and the EU in New York. A joint diplomatic position, with no new delimitation or Security Council decision.
Updated 26.10.2026 · 20:00, Athens time — What changed
Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis delivered a joint statement in New York on 26 October on behalf of Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union. Greece’s Foreign Ministry published the complete text; ERT also reports the development.
The participants voice concern about the impact on regional stability of the Libyan parliament’s ratification of the Türkiye–Libya memorandum. In their joint assessment, it disregards coastal states’ and islands’ rights, conflicts with international law and cannot provide a lawful basis for delimitation or produce legal effects for third states.
The text supports reunifying Libyan institutions and resolving disputes peacefully. It also records Greece’s readiness to continue bilateral maritime-delimitation talks with Libya.
The new development is a joint diplomatic intervention by five states and the EU. No new delimitation agreement, sanction or judicial ruling is announced. The statement is not presented as a UN Security Council decision.
Earlier updates — history
Updated 22.10.2026 · 17:08, Athens time — What changed
Foreign ministers George Gerapetritis and Badr Abdelatty agreed on 22 October to continue consultations aimed at extending the geographical scope of their 2020 EEZ delimitation agreement, according to an official Greek Foreign Ministry post.
The original Egyptian Foreign Ministry announcement confirms the telephone call and continued consultations on maritime boundaries under international law and UNCLOS. It also says the ministers rejected the Libyan parliament’s ratification of the Türkiye–Libya memorandum.
This is an agreement to continue consultations. No newly signed text, coordinates, completion date or sanctions were announced. Rejection of the memorandum is attributed to the two governments’ position; it is not a new judicial ruling.
Earlier updates — history
Updated 20.10.2026 · 23:02, Athens time — What changed:
European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirm solidarity with Greece and Cyprus in a joint statement dated 20 October 2026.
They regret the Libyan parliamentary ratification and reiterate the European Council’s 2019 position: in the EU’s assessment, the memorandum infringes third states’ rights, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and is void. They also repeat their opposition to outside interference in Libya.
This is a new public diplomatic intervention, not a new court ruling. The text announces no sanctions. The initial Greek response is retained below as history.
Earlier updates — history
Greece rejects the Libyan House of Representatives’ decision to approve the 2019 Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum, according to an official Foreign Ministry statement on 20 October 2026. The response follows the parliamentary development in Libya and constitutes a new public diplomatic step by Athens.
The position on maritime zones
The ministry argues that approval does not remedy the memorandum’s legal defects and that it infringes the sovereign rights of regional states. It invokes international maritime law, UNCLOS and customary law concerning Greek islands’ rights.
The Greek position is that Turkey and Libya lack the opposite or adjacent coasts required to underpin this delimitation. These are the Greek ministry’s legal positions; the statement is not a new international court judgment.
Partners informed, next measures not specified
The ministry says Greece has already informed partners and allies and announces appropriate action to safeguard its sovereign rights. It also calls on Libya to avoid steps that, in Athens’ view, violate international law and undermine regional stability.
The statement identifies no new countermeasures, specific legal proceedings or timetable. It therefore does not establish that such a procedure has already begun. Libyan parliamentary approval and Greece’s rejection are distinct developments; they are not presented as an agreed Greece–Libya maritime delimitation.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek