On Friday, the Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, said strengthening cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Libya is “essential” to address the migration flows coming from the Libyan coast.
Di Maio, his Maltese counterpart Everest Bartolo and the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Olivér Várhelyi arrived in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Friday morning.
“In our talks today, we addressed the fundamental issue of strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Libya in the field of migration,” Di Maio said in a joint press conference with his Libyan counterpart Najlaa Al-Mangoush in addition to the EU delegation.
“Indeed, it is extremely important to gradually move from a logic focused exclusively on controlling maritime borders to a broader strategy that also includes the ability to control irregular entry routes across the southern borders of Libya,” Di Maio explained.
“Obviously, all activities in this field must be carried out in full compliance with international standards and human rights, starting with the rights of the most vulnerable people,” he added during the joint press conference.
The Italian top diplomat renewed his country’s readiness to cooperate with the Libyan authorities on the migration file. He pointed out that the EU wants the “emerging new Libya” to become an effective partner of the EU