Cypriot officials call for EU action against Turkey-Libya memorandum

Cypriot political figures and Members of the European Parliament are intensifying pressure on the European Union to move beyond rhetorical condemnations and impose concrete sanctions regarding the Turkey-Libya memorandum. On October 21, 2026, the Democratic Alignment (DEPA) party urged the governments of Cyprus and Greece to launch a coordinated diplomatic initiative at the EU and UN levels to document the legal consequences of the memorandum and enforce deterrent measures against entities violating maritime sovereignty.

During a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg held on October 21, MEPs Loukas Fourlas, Costas Mavrides, and Geadis Geadi criticized the Turkey-Libya agreement as invalid and unfounded. The discussion took place in the presence of European Council President Antonio Costa, following the October 15-16 European Council summit. Fourlas specifically emphasized that mere statements are insufficient, arguing that the EU must adopt targeted sanctions against individuals or entities involved in actions that threaten the sovereign rights of member states. The Cypriot representatives also stressed the need for better regional coordination with nations that uphold the Law of the Sea to prevent further instability in the Eastern Mediterranean.