Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou has rejected a Bloomberg report suggesting that Libya’s eastern-based parliament is preparing to ratify a maritime accord with Turkey. Speaking to SKAI TV, Papastavrou stressed that Greece’s policies “are not determined by reports, but by actions on the ground.”
He highlighted Greece’s expanding role in the Eastern Mediterranean energy sector. “Our country’s leading role has been strengthened. We are key in connections to the North and across the Atlantic. This upgraded role naturally provokes reactions from those unsettled by shifting balances, but these reactions are addressed in the field,” he said.
Bloomberg reported that Libya’s House of Representatives in Benghazi, supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, is expected to approve the 2019 memorandum with Turkey in the coming weeks. Greece considers the deal illegal, as it delineates maritime zones between the two nations despite their lack of adjacent coastlines. The agreement has remained inactive since its signing, awaiting legislative ratification.
The Tripoli-based government, supported by Ankara, originally signed the accord. However, lawmakers in Benghazi have resisted endorsement until recently. Analysts view warming relations between Ankara and Benghazi as a sign that ratification may soon proceed.
The European Council weighed in on the issue last June, declaring that the Libya-Turkey memorandum “violates the sovereign rights of third countries and is not in line with international law.” The EU reaffirmed its support for Greece and Cyprus, underscoring its position that the accord is unlawful.
The maritime deal remains a flashpoint in regional politics, with Athens closely monitoring developments. Any move by the Libyan parliament to endorse the memorandum is expected to heighten tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
