Motivated by your quick replies I started some research.

Did not find anything on the MEA web page, but on LH it says under terms & conditions:

Refusal of Refunds
10.5.
10.5.1.
We may refuse refund when application therefore is made later than six months after the expiry of the validity of the ticket.

This means that my ticket (which during its validity period of 12 months was a fully flexible and refundable ticket) should still be acceptable for a refund after expiry, though with LH within a six months time frame only. let us hope that MEA has similar rules.