Cypriot politicians demand EU action against the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum

On October 21, 2026, Cypriot political figures and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) urged the European Union to move beyond verbal condemnations regarding the Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding. During an European Parliament session in Strasbourg, Cypriot MEPs Loukas Fourlas, Costas Mavrides, and Geadis Geadi argued that previous rhetorical warnings have failed to deter Turkey's regional aggression and its attempts to create new facts on the ground in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Democratic Alignment (DEPA) party and other political factions emphasized that the agreement violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and infringes upon the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus. The politicians are calling for a coordinated diplomatic initiative involving Greece and Cyprus to activate EU mechanisms, including the consideration of targeted sanctions against entities or individuals facilitating the illegal implementation of the memorandum. MEPs stressed that the current policy of appeasement has failed to address security challenges effectively.

While EU institutions previously issued an initial condemnation, local officials insist that only concrete, deterrent measures will protect the maritime rights of member states. The debate, which occurred during a broader discussion on the October 15-16 European Council conclusions, highlighted a growing push for a more autonomous and decisive European defense and foreign policy regarding regional maritime disputes.