European ambassadors to Libya have rejected a controversial deal struck by the Libyan Government of National Accord, led by Fayez al-Sarraj, with Turkey last year.
The diplomats on Saturday held meetings with senior Libyan officials and stressed the importance of a political solution to the current crisis.
The ambassadors of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the charges d'affaires of Hungary, the Netherlands, and Poland, together with the ambassador of Norway, held joint meetings in Tripoli with Sarraj, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Siala, and Chairman of the National Oil Corporation Mustafa Sanallah, according to a statement issued by the EU Delegation to Libya.
The statement said that the Turkey-Libya maritime deal signed in November 2019 "does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third states."
The envoys underlined the importance of engaging fully in all tracks of the UN-led process to reach a permanent and sustainable ceasefire agreement, the lifting of oil blockade, and the resumption of political dialogue, it said.
“In our meetings today in Tripoli, we reaffirmed that the EU is united behind the Berlin process as the only option to put an end to the Libyan crisis and the suffering of Libya's civilian population, and to avoid further destabilization in Libya and in the region.”
"There can only be a political solution to the current crisis, which would take the country towards parliamentary and presidential elections," the statement said.
“The EU, as it did recently with five new sanction listings, is ready to take restrictive measures against those who undermine and obstruct work on different tracks of the Berlin process including on the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya, as well as those who work against ongoing attempts to reform the security authorities, continue to plunder state funds or commit human rights abuses and violations all over the country,” it added.
