By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rejected Libya's eastern parliament's approval of the 2019 maritime agreement with Türkiye on October 20. Greece raised the pact with Egypt the same day.
The two presidents called the agreement "null and void," arguing that it infringes the sovereign rights of other states and does not comply with the law of the sea. They reaffirmed solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, repeating the European Council's December 2019 position. No sanctions or new measures were announced.
Greece and the Republic of Cyprus had already rejected the Libyan vote. Athens argues that the boundary disregards the maritime rights of Greek islands. Türkiye maintains that the agreement is valid and protects its maritime interests.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis spoke by phone with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. Greece's Foreign Ministry said the call addressed the Türkiye–Libya agreement and its implications for security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
An Egyptian account carried by the Libyan News Agency described discussions on Libya and preparations for the next Egypt–Greece–Cyprus summit. It did not name the maritime agreement or announce any new Egyptian response to it.
Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives approved the pact unanimously, reversing the opposition it had maintained since 2020. Türkiye's Foreign Ministry welcomed the vote, saying the agreement safeguards the rights and interests of both countries under international law and the principle of equity.
United Nations treaty records list December 8, 2019 as the date the agreement entered into force and December 11 as its registration date. The parliamentary vote came nearly seven years later.
Sources: European Council, Greece's Foreign Ministry, Türkiye's Foreign Ministry, Libyan News Agency, Reuters, Bosphorus News review and reporting.