Turkey rejects EU criticism of maritime deal with Libya
Turkey has dismissed European Union criticism of its 2019 maritime agreement with Libya, describing the EU's position as unhelpful to regional peace and stability.
In a statement on Friday, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli responded to conclusions adopted by the European Council on 28 June 2025. The statement said the EU stance reflected the efforts of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration to advance maritime claims that Ankara argues are incompatible with international law and the principle of equity.
The maritime memorandum of understanding, signed between Turkey and Libya's then-UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), defines maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey maintains that the deal is legally valid and in line with international law.
Keçeli said Ankara would not accept attempts to undermine what it considers its legitimate rights and interests in the region. He also said the EU's approach to maritime boundary issues—described as legally and technically complex—was politically biased and unlikely to contribute to stability.
Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean have risen in recent years due to competing maritime claims and energy exploration activities involving Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and other regional actors.
The European Council's final communiqué is expected to express support for Greece's position on the Turkey-Libya agreement and address concerns related to irregular migration routes from the Libyan coast to southern Europe. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libyan Express
13 hours ago
- Libyan Express
Libya's army leadership becomes a Haftar dynasty
BY Libyan Express Aug 19, 2025 - 07:34 Updated: Aug 19, 2025 - 07:35 From commander to father figure: Haftar hands power to his sons Egyptian writer and journalist Khaled Mahmoued revealed in a post on his X account that Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), has made a surprise move by appointing his son, Khalid Haftar, as Chief of Staff of the Army. The decision comes as Lieutenant General Abdulrazek al-Nadoori was reassigned to the post of National Security Advisor. According to Mahmoued, the House of Representatives in Benghazi ratified the decision during its session yesterday, cementing the rise of Haftar's sons within the military hierarchy. Khalid now occupies the role of Chief of Staff, while his brother, Saddam Haftar, had earlier been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the LNA. The reshuffle has stirred wide debate in Libya. Critics see it as an early attempt to entrench hereditary succession of power within the institution, while supporters argue it is a pragmatic step necessitated by the challenges of the current phase. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libyan Express
a day ago
- Libyan Express
UN survey reveals mixed views on Libya's path to elections
BY Libyan Express Aug 18, 2025 - 08:04 Updated: Aug 18, 2025 - 08:05 UN roadmap draws mixed reactions in nationwide Libya poll The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has released the results of a nationwide opinion poll that gathered responses from more than 22,500 Libyans over a two-month period. The survey aimed to measure public views on the political process and possible ways forward. According to the findings, 42% of participants said holding presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time, and as soon as possible, is the best way to end the current political stalemate. Around 23% supported a proposal to dissolve existing institutions and convene a national dialogue forum to appoint a new interim authority. This option also includes electing a 60-member body to draft an interim constitution and electoral laws to pave the way for national elections. Meanwhile, 17% favoured completing a permanent constitution before organising any elections. Broader Participation UNSMIL said the survey included contributions from young people, women, cultural groups, and persons with disabilities. In addition, more than 2,400 participants joined in-person and online consultations with community leaders, civil society organisations, unions, youth representatives and women's groups. Those community consultations showed stronger support for dissolving institutions and holding a new political dialogue compared to the online survey. A separate telephone poll of 1,400 randomly selected Libyans suggested that many respondents prioritised finishing the constitution first. Some also said they had not heard about the Advisory Committee or its proposals. Roadmap Options The mission explained that the Advisory Committee presented four main options: holding presidential and parliamentary elections first, followed by work on a constitution; convening a dialogue forum under Article 64 of the Political Agreement; electing 60 members to approve constitutional provisions and election laws leading to elections; completing the constitution first, then holding elections. A fifth option discussed was to hold parliamentary elections first, then draft the constitution, followed by presidential elections. UNSMIL said the roadmap is designed to reflect the views expressed by Libyans in order to help achieve a peaceful political transition that takes into account the country's political and security realities. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libyan Express
4 days ago
- Libyan Express
Trump says ‘no deal until there's a deal'
BY Libyan Express Aug 16, 2025 - 01:33 Trump says 'no deal until there's a deal' after Putin summit U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his long-awaited meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska ended without any formal agreement, after nearly three hours of talks centered on the war in Ukraine. 'There's no deal until there's a deal,' Trump told reporters, acknowledging that no ceasefire or binding commitments were reached. The U.S. president described the discussions as 'very productive' and claimed 'some great progress' had been made, but offered no specifics. 'We didn't get there,' he added, before leaving without taking questions from the gathered press. The summit, held at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, was part of Trump's effort to encourage direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. While stressing that he was not negotiating on Ukraine's behalf, Trump said he planned to arrange direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin expressed hope that all sides would respect what had been discussed and hinted at the possibility of meeting again, but no follow-up summit has been scheduled. For Washington's allies in Europe and the Middle East — many of whom have a direct stake in regional stability and energy markets — the meeting's failure to produce a breakthrough underscores the difficulty of reaching a negotiated end to the conflict. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
