The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Libya, Nicholas Orlando, participated in a ceremony on Monday for the handover of four desert ambulances and communication equipment to the Border Guard Command of the Libyan Ministry of Interior.
The handover operation was conducted based on a decision by the Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, and in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Both entities are partners in the project funded by the EU, titled Supporting Integrated Border and Migration Management in Libya.
The EU Ambassador stated that this equipment will contribute to the effective management of borders in line with human rights, especially in desert search and rescue operations.
During the event, in-depth discussions were held on ways to enhance the partnership between Libya and the EU regarding issues related to land borders and human rights. The Ministry of Interior was represented by its Undersecretary, Mahmoud Saeed.
In November 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that the EU has provided €59 million to Libya, over recent years to manage immigration affairs, offering training, boats, and other equipment.
The EU has gradually withdrawn from rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean, intensifying deterrence measures to prevent their arrival in Europe, and deliberately returning them to Libya.
Earlier this month, Piantedosi stated that cooperation with Libya and Tunisia has prevented the arrival of 121,000 migrants to Italy in 2023, including those whose bodies were recovered at sea.
During a hearing in the Schengen Agreement Implementation Committee, Piantedosi revealed that 550 smugglers were apprehended in 2022 and 2023, as reported by the Italian news agency ANSA.
The Italian Interior Minister pointed out that 157,000 migrants, including 17,000 unaccompanied minors, arrived in Italy last year, compared to 105,000 in 2022, with 14,000 of them being minors.
He stated, “there was a significant increase, but it was contained to less than 50% over the months.”
Piantedosi added, “these figures do not align with the government’s objectives, but there could have been higher numbers if we had not implemented the measures we adopted in recent months.”
He further explained that the reception system has withstood the unusual influx, currently hosting approximately 140,000 migrants.