Libya Protests Greece’s EEZ Claim South of Crete, Citing Sovereignty Breach

The Libyan government in Tripoli has formally protested to the United Nations over Greece’s delineation of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) south of Crete,arguing that the map infringes on Libyan maritime boundaries. The EEZ map,published in the EU’s Official Journal over the weekend,is said by Libya to be a breach of its sovereign rights,particularly in granting hydrocarbon exploration rights in contested waters.

In a diplomatic note,Libya described Greece’s action as a “unilateral measure without legal basis” and submitted its own EEZ map to directly counter the Greek claim. Tripoli maintains that such actions disregard the need for mutual agreements and undermine international maritime norms.

Greek diplomatic officials dismissed Libya’s objection,asserting it is grounded in the Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum,which Athens does not recognise. Greece reiterated its stance that any claims based on “invalid and unfounded agreements” have no standing under the International Law of the Sea,and stated that an official rebuttal will be communicated to the United Nations in due course.