Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Libya and Greece have agreed to begin the process of delimiting their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). The statement followed a meeting in Athens between Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Libya’s Acting Foreign Minister of the Government of National Unity, Al-Taher Al-Baour.
According to ministry spokesperson Liana Zougou, the agreement marks a significant step in addressing maritime boundaries. She confirmed that the first round of technical committee meetings has already taken place, with the next session scheduled to be held in Tripoli.
The talks build on Minister Gerapetritis’s visit to Tripoli in July, where both sides committed to deepening bilateral relations. The discussions also covered cooperation on migration, with Greece reiterating its readiness to continue training Libyan coastguard officers.
Both ministers also exchanged views on expanding ties in the fields of economy, energy, transport, and construction. They expressed readiness to launch a direct flight route between Athens and Tripoli and agreed to organise a Greek trade mission to the Libyan capital this autumn.
Minister Gerapetritis underlined the importance of respecting international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He also reiterated Greece and the European Union’s firm rejection of the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum, which Athens considers null and void.
Greece highlighted its contribution as both an EU member state and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council towards supporting efforts for a comprehensive settlement in Libya.
The announcement represents a milestone in efforts to clarify maritime boundaries between the two Mediterranean countries, which have long been a point of contention.
