Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002851/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)
On 20 June 2025, the Permanent Mission of Libya to the UN issued a Note Verbale accusing Greece of a ‘serious breach of international law’, arguing that Greek permits for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete allegedly infringe Libya’s ‘sovereign rights’.
Invoking the blatantly illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum of understanding, both non-officially recognised Libyan governments are attempting to challenge Greek sovereignty and denying the influence of the Greek islands – even Crete itself – in maritime zones, in breach of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This is a dangerous escalation, which is part of the broader strategy of the Turkish and Libyan governments to destabilise the Eastern Mediterranean and challenge the lawful rights of an EU Member State.
In view of the above, can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy say:
- 1.Will she strongly condemn the non-existent Libyan grievances and the invocation of an illegal memorandum that grossly violates international law?
- 2.How does she intend to actively defend Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, while protecting the EU’s strategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean against such destabilising practices?
Submitted: 13.7.2025