Giannis Maniatis, Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats Group and a PASOK MEP, has called on the European Union’s High Representative, Kaja Kallas, to consider targeted European sanctions against those responsible for Libya’s latest provocations. He made the request in a written parliamentary question.
According to reports, in a diplomatic note dated 24 August 2026, Libya challenges planned hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete, asserting unilateral maritime claims and even warning that it could suspend bilateral delimitation talks with Greece.
Tripoli is seeking to create a fait accompli on the basis of the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum, challenging the sovereign rights of an EU member state. This is despite both the European Council and the European Parliament having repeatedly made clear that the Turkey-Libya memorandum violates the sovereign rights of third countries, runs counter to the Law of the Sea and has no legal effect on third countries.
Mr Maniatis is asking Kaja Kallas to consider proposing targeted sanctions against individuals or legal entities responsible for actions challenging Greece’s sovereign rights, and to raise the issue at the Foreign Affairs Council, so that the European Union moves from declarations to concrete initiatives.
In a statement, Mr Maniatis said:
“Libya is challenging our national sovereign rights and seeking to impose the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum.
The EU cannot limit itself to statements of condemnation.
I call on the EU’s High Representative to consider imposing targeted European sanctions on those responsible for these provocations and to bring the issue before the Foreign Affairs Council.
Defending Greece’s sovereign rights is also a European obligation.”
The text of the question follows:
Subject: Imposing European sanctions over Libya’s challenge to Greece’s sovereign rights
“In a diplomatic note dated 24 August 2026, according to reports, Libya challenges planned hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete, citing unilateral maritime claims linked to the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum. It has also warned that it could suspend bilateral delimitation talks.
The European Council has repeatedly stated that the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum violates the sovereign rights of third countries, runs counter to the Law of the Sea and has no legal effect on third countries.
The continued challenge to Greece’s sovereign rights raises the question of whether EU foreign policy is being put into practice.
Question to the High Representative:
1. Does she intend to propose that the Council consider targeted sanctions against individuals or legal entities responsible for actions challenging Greece’s sovereign rights, including the establishment of an appropriate legal framework for restrictive measures?
2. Does she intend to raise the issue at the Foreign Affairs Council, and what specific diplomatic initiatives will she undertake to implement the European Council’s conclusions and protect the sovereign rights of member states?”