Brussels – Tripoli: Europe and the Arabs

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned the use of force to impose appointments within the Audit Bureau. This development follows, by only a few hours, a European statement declaring the memorandum of understanding between Libya and Turkey on the demarcation of maritime boundaries to be null and void. According to media reports—including those from *Youm7* in Cairo—UNSMIL condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the use of force and intimidation at the Audit Bureau’s headquarters in Tripoli, aimed at enforcing a contested appointment for the position of Deputy Head of the Bureau. The mission emphasized that resorting to force to impose appointments within sovereign institutions is entirely unacceptable and poses a grave threat to the rule of law, as well as to the integrity and independence of Libya’s sovereign institutions.

The mission expressed deep concern regarding these actions, particularly as they target an independent oversight body tasked with protecting public funds and ensuring accountability in the management of state resources.

UNSMIL asserted that any attempt to force leadership changes within the institution through intimidation will not only further erode public trust but will also undermine the integrity of public financial oversight. Furthermore, it hinders the Audit Bureau’s ability to perform its duties independently and effectively, ultimately harming the interests of the Libyan people.

The mission called for an immediate cessation of all forms of armed interference in the affairs of the Audit Bureau, and for the urgent withdrawal of armed elements from its premises. It also called on the concerned parties to resolve disputes regarding appointments to sovereign institutions exclusively through established legal and institutional channels, in accordance with applicable Libyan legislation and in line with the provisions and principles of the Libyan Political Agreement.
Separately, the European Union expressed its deep regret over the Libyan House of Representatives’ ratification, on October 20, 2026, of the 2019 memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya concerning the delimitation of maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea. A statement issued in Brussels on Wednesday by the office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, noted:
The European Union’s position on this memorandum remains firm and clear. As stated in the European Council conclusions of December 2019—reaffirmed in June 2025—the memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya infringes upon the sovereign rights of other states and is inconsistent with the law of the sea. Consequently, this memorandum is considered null and void and cannot produce any legal effects with respect to third states.
The European Union has a strategic interest in ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. It urges all states to respect the sovereign rights of all member states, in accordance with European Union law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.