Turkey-Libya maritime deal approved, Greece and EU vow opposition

Libyan parliament unanimously ratifies agreement establishing direct economic corridor in eastern Mediterranean, raising tensions over energy rights

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Libya's parliament unanimously approved a maritime agreement with Turkey this week, establishing a direct economic corridor between the two countries' coasts and setting the stage for intensified disputes with Greece and the European Union over energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

The agreement, originally signed with the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in 2019 but long opposed by Libya's eastern parliament, was ratified on Tuesday after that body reversed its position. Turkey's Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision.

The accord creates a maritime corridor between southern Turkey and northern Libya, an area where estimates suggest natural gas reserves worth several hundred billion US dollars lie beneath the seabed. Turkey and Libya plan to jointly explore and exploit those resources.

The corridor disregards Greek islands including Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes. Greece's government said it firmly rejects the agreement and has the backing of the European Union.

"The European Union has described the Turkish-Libyan memorandum as null and void, stressing that it violates the sovereign rights of third states and is not consistent with the Law of the Sea," the Greek Foreign Ministry posted on X.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also weighed in, writing on X: "I raised yesterday's Libyan vote on a maritime MoU with Türkiye and stressed that it infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states."

The dispute centres on competing interpretations of international maritime law. Greece cites the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants inhabited islands the same rights to an exclusive economic zone as mainland territory. Turkey, which has never signed UNCLOS, argues that granting full EEZ rights to every small Greek island off its coast would cut Turkey off from the open sea.

The agreement also threatens the planned EastMed pipeline, which would carry natural gas from Israel and Cyprus through Greece to Europe, as the corridor crosses its proposed route.

Turkey's relationship with Libya has deepened since its military intervention in 2019. Turkish construction companies have won billions of dollars in reconstruction contracts, and the Turkish state oil company TPAO is working with Libya's National Oil Corporation on seismic surveys. Turkey has also become a military partner for eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter, pushing back against Egyptian and Russian influence.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The deal threatens EU energy security by jeopardising the planned EastMed pipeline, a project intended to reduce European dependence on Russian gas.
It risks splitting the eastern Mediterranean into competing blocs: a Turkey-Libya axis versus an EU-backed alliance of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel.
Disputed maritime boundaries could lead to confrontation if Turkey and Libya begin extracting oil and gas in contested waters.

Background

Greece and Turkey have long disagreed over maritime boundaries in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean. Greece, an EU member, relies on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which gives islands rights to exclusive economic zones. Turkey, not a party to UNCLOS, argues that geography should limit Greek island claims. A 2019 Turkey-Libya deal was blocked by eastern Libya's parliament until this week's reversal, following Turkish rapprochement with commander Khalifa Hifter.

Key Perspectives

Greece: The government firmly rejects the agreement and says the EU has described it as null and void because it violates third states' sovereign rights and the Law of the Sea. European Union: High representative Kaja Kallas said the memorandum infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states. Turkey: The government argues that granting every small Greek island a full EEZ would cut Turkey off from the open sea, and that geography must be given greater consideration in demarcation. Libya's eastern parliament: After years of opposition, it now supports the deal to secure eastern Libya's share of lucrative natural resources.

What to Watch

Whether Turkey and Libya begin seismic surveys or drilling in the disputed area, which could trigger a direct confrontation with Greece.
The fate of the EastMed pipeline project, which now faces a serious obstacle from the corridor's route.
Any EU or US diplomatic response, including possible sanctions or mediation efforts.

Sources

Turkey's new deal on Mediterranean maritime boundaries with Libya is exacerbating issues with Greece and the EU · DW English

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe Greek Foreign Ministry quoted the EU as calling the memorandum “null and void” and saying it violated third states’ sovereign rights and was inconsistent with the Law of the Sea.DW English: ““The European Union has described the Turkish-Libyan memorandum as null and void, stressing that it violates the sovereign rights of third states and is not consistent with the Law of the Sea,” the ministry posted.”
SupportedKaja Kallas said she raised the Libyan vote and stressed that it infringed third states’ sovereign rights.DW English: ““I raised yesterday's Libyan vote on a maritime MoU with Türkiye and stressed that it infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states,” Kaja Kallas, the European Union high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, posted on X.”
SupportedThe Greek Foreign Ministry said Greece firmly rejected the agreement and had EU support.DW English: “In a post on X, the Foreign Ministry announced that Greece firmly rejects the agreement and has the support of the European Union in doing so.”
SupportedLibya’s parliament approved the maritime agreement with Turkey.DW English: “On Tuesday, the parliament of Libya unanimously approved a maritime agreement with Turkey to establish a direct maritime economic corridor between the countries.”
SupportedThe agreement establishes a direct economic corridor between Libya and Turkey.DW English: “On Tuesday, the parliament of Libya unanimously approved a maritime agreement with Turkey to establish a direct maritime economic corridor between the countries.”
Partly supportedThe agreement’s approval raises tensions with Greece and the EU over energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean.DW English: “The decision, which was welcomed by Turkey's Foreign Ministry, is likely to contribute to tensions with other countries in the eastern Mediterranean — especially Greece.”
Partly supportedThe eastern parliament approved the agreement this week.DW English: “On Tuesday, the parliament of Libya unanimously approved a maritime agreement with Turkey to establish a direct maritime economic corridor between the countries.”
Partly supportedEstimates suggest natural gas reserves worth several hundred billion US dollars lie beneath the seabed.DW English: “estimates suggest that natural gas reserves worth several hundred billion US dollars may lie beneath the seabed.”
Partly supportedUNCLOS grants inhabited islands the same EEZ rights as mainland territory.DW English: “According to Article 121 of the convention, inhabited islands that “support an economic life of their own” have the same rights to an EEZ as the mainland.”
Partly supportedTurkey argues that giving every small Greek island full EEZ rights would cut Turkey off from the open sea.DW English: “If every small Greek island off the coast of Turkey and Cyprus were granted a full EEZ, Turkey would be largely cut off from access to the open sea.”
SupportedThe corridor crosses the planned EastMed pipeline route and threatens the project.DW English: “However, the corridor established by Turkey and Libya cuts across the planned route of the pipeline.”
Partly supportedTPAO is working with Libya’s National Oil Corporation on seismic surveys.DW English: “the Turkish state-owned oil company TPAO and the Libyan National Oil Corporation are already working on joint plans for seismic surveys off of Libya's coast.”