Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Libya on Maritime Borders
9.12.2019
Priority question for written answer P-004285/2019
to the Commission
Rule 138
Loucas Fourlas (PPE)
At a ceremony on 27 November in Istanbul, Turkey and the UN-recognised government of Libya, in complete violation of international law, signed an arbitrary and geographically questionable memorandum of understanding on the demarcation of maritime jurisdiction areas. At the same time, they also signed a memorandum of understanding on security and defence.
The Turkish government has announced that it is planning new studies on oil and gas exploration and production in the region based on this memorandum of understanding on maritime borders.
This provocative and illegal agreement violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and ignores the sovereign rights not only of Cyprus but also of other neighbouring states in the region.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
- 1.How does it view the two countries’ cooperation agreement on maritime borders and their memorandum on military cooperation, given that Turkey is violating the embargo on arms exports to Libya?
- 2.Does it have any detailed information on the two agreements?
- 3.What will be the consequences for individuals and companies subject to EU sanctions?