On Friday, the European Union requested all parties to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian populated areas in Libya. It also rejected any accusations regarding Operation IRINI’s mission and its goals.
The EU stressed that IRINI’s mission off the Libyan coast is to monitor and implement the UN arms embargo on Libya.
Earlier on Friday, Malta formally gave notice to the European Commission that it would no longer commit any military assets to Operation IRINI.
The Maltese government told the Committee it will veto decisions on IRINI that concern spending on procedures for disembarkation of migrants, port diversions and the eligibility of drones.
On Thursday, the Head of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Sarraj, reiterated his objection to the EU’s mission to monitor the arms embargo on Libya in the Mediterranean.
Sarraj stressed the need to expand the mission’s scope to monitor and enforce aerial and land transfers of weapons, noting that a memorandum had been sent in this regard to the European Union.