The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, outlined the issues to be discussed at the European Council before entering the meeting in Brussels.

The Prime Minister made a specific reference to Libya, both regarding migration and the Turkey-Libya memorandum. As he said, our country will send warships outside Libya’s territorial waters so that the traffickers’ boats are turned back to Libya, while he spoke of the need to send a clear message to the country in order to secure cooperation on migration.

“Mitsotakis specifically stated that ‘we must convey to the Libyan authorities that this practice cannot be accepted’,” making it known that he will seek the Union’s support on the matter. At the same time, he argued that there must be clear positions taken regarding the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum.

Referring to the conflict between Israel and Iran, he emphasized the need to maintain the ceasefire and for both sides to return to the negotiating table, noting that “the threat from Iran must be addressed through diplomatic means.”

Regarding the situation in Gaza, the Prime Minister underlined that it is the right moment to bring back to the forefront the demand for an immediate ceasefire, combined with the release of all hostages, in order to put an end to the humanitarian crisis.

Reference against the Turkey-Libya memorandum in the draft conclusions of the European Council

The Turkey-Libya Memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones in the Mediterranean “violates the sovereign rights of third states, does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and cannot have legal consequences for third states,” states the draft conclusions of the European Council, obtained by protothema.gr, which of course may differ to some extent from the final text.

Specifically, the draft states the following: “The European Council examined the worrying situation in Libya and its possible repercussions both for European security and for migration flows. It reaffirms the European Union’s steadfast support for Libya and for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya in promoting national reconciliation, institutional unity, and a transparent, inclusive dialogue, based on the ownership and consensus of the Libyan people themselves. The European Council recalls that the Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime zones in the Mediterranean violates the sovereign rights of third states, does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and cannot have legal consequences for third states.”