Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has confirmed that Greece and Libya’s Tripoli government have formally launched negotiations on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones (EEZs), according to Ekathimerini newspaper.
Mitsotakis said on Sunday that the first session of the technical committees was already held in Athens, with the next round scheduled to take place in Tripoli. He noted that while the road to an agreement remains long, the initiation of talks marks a constructive step towards resolving longstanding disputes.
The prime minister underlined that any regional maritime arrangements must be founded on international law, not on “baseless memoranda.” His remark was a clear reference to the 2019 maritime agreement between Ankara and a previous Tripoli administration, which Athens has consistently rejected as invalid.
Mitsotakis highlighted that the start of EEZ discussions coincides with energy developments in the eastern Mediterranean. He pointed out that US energy company Chevron had recently confirmed its participation in the international tender for offshore exploration south of Crete and the Peloponnese.
“The launch of the delimitation process with Libya follows just days after Chevron confirmed its involvement in the tender,” he said, stressing the importance of legal clarity for future energy projects.
In a separate announcement, Mitsotakis confirmed the purchase of a fourth Belharra frigate, Themistocles, as part of Greece’s naval modernisation. The bill has already been submitted to Parliament, with the first frigate, Kimon, expected to be delivered by late 2025.
