On Wednesday, the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel, former Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, Emanuela Del Re confirmed the EU’s “commitment to strengthening cooperation with Libya on migration issues.”
This came during a meeting between the European official and the Minister of Social Affairs in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), Wafaa Al-Kilani. They discussed migration, humanitarian aid, and women’s protection, according to a tweet by Del Re.
Notably, the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) reported that members will consider an initial report by the Foreign Affairs Committee on the political and security situation in Libya on Tuesday.
In a statement, EPRS said that the report proposes the appointment of an EU special representative to Libya. It also stresses the need for “redoubling the European Union’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace in the country and the region.”
The report also recommends strong support for UN-led reconciliation efforts that seek a peaceful and democratic transition in Libya. It added that “weak governance and proxy warfare have strengthened armed groups at the expense of democracy.”
The European Parliament confirmed that the “indefinite postponement of the December 2021 elections led to a further deterioration of the political and security situation in Libya in 2022. This has deepened the political stalemate and division in the country.”
It added that Libya “still lacks unified national institutions, a widely accepted constitution, and an electoral framework.” It pointed out that the EU will “continue to support the Libyan authorities, through the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM) and Operation IRINI.”
Last month, Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Giuliano Pisapia said that the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission has finally approved an important document on the precarious situation in Libya.
Pisapia noted that the text, of which he was rapporteur, puts “respect for democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law at the center of our political action in Libya.”
“For too long in Libya, rights have been ferociously trampled, civil society is brutally repressed, and those who cross the Libyan borders in search of a better future are tortured, raped, and incarcerated in detention camps where all rights are denied,” he said.
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