Migration Commissioner expelled from Libya as 'persona non grata'
The order was issued by the Government of National Stability (GNS), the rival of the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU). The former controls the city of Benghazi, and the latter controls Tripoli.
The expulsion also applied to Matteo Piantedosi, Italy's minister of internal affairs, and a delegation of Greek and Maltese officials. They had all travelled to the country to discuss the recent surge in the departure of irregular migrants from Libya to Europe.
In a press release signed by Prime Minister Osama Saad Hammad, the Government of National Stability denounced what it called "flagrant contravention of established diplomatic norms and international convention," and "actions that demonstrably disregard Libyan national sovereignty", without providing specific details.
"Consequently, the scheduled visit (...) was rescinded upon their arrival at Benina International Airport in the city of Benghazi," the press release says.
"They were duly informed of the imperative to depart Libyan territory forthwith and were declared persona non grata."
It was not immediately clear what prompted the expulsion.
The European Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
This is a developing story.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local France
6 hours ago
- Local France
EES update: Phased launch of Europe's new border system approved by MEPs
The so-called Entry/Exit System (EES), was supposed to kick in last November but was delayed at the last minute as several states were not ready. First agreed on in 2017, the automated system will record visitors' date of entry and exit and keep track of overstays and refused entries. Visitors to the bloc's Schengen free movement area will also have biometric data -- facial images and fingerprints -- collected at ports of entry. READ ALSO: EU reveals how EES biometric border checks will be phased in "The aim is to improve security, speed up the border check process, and reduce queues," the European Parliament said. But some have raised fears that a rushed implementation could lead to longer waiting times for people travelling to Europe on trains, ferries and planes. London's mayor Sadiq Khan warned last year it could trigger "chaos" at the British capital's Eurostar cross-Channel rail hub, St Pancras station. READ ALSO: How can you prepare for travel under Europe's new EES and ETIAS rules Advertisement The UK, which left the European Union in 2020, this year launched its own digital travel permit, which is mandatory for European visitors. Under the roll-out approved by European lawmakers in Strasbourg, with 572 votes in favour and 42 against, the EU scheme will be implemented over a six-month period. The exact date is to be decided by the European Commission after the law is formally adopted and enters into force. Member states would ramp up towards operating the EES system at half of border crossing points after three months and by six months countries should be registering all individuals using the system.
Euronews
9 hours ago
- Euronews
Migration Commissioner expelled from Libya as 'persona non grata'
Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, was on Tuesday declared "persona non grata" and asked to depart Libyan territory upon arriving at the airport of Benghazi. The order was issued by the Government of National Stability (GNS), the rival of the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU). The former controls the city of Benghazi, and the latter controls Tripoli. The expulsion also applied to Matteo Piantedosi, Italy's minister of internal affairs, and a delegation of Greek and Maltese officials. They had all travelled to the country to discuss the recent surge in the departure of irregular migrants from Libya to Europe. In a press release signed by Prime Minister Osama Saad Hammad, the Government of National Stability denounced what it called "flagrant contravention of established diplomatic norms and international convention," and "actions that demonstrably disregard Libyan national sovereignty", without providing specific details. "Consequently, the scheduled visit (...) was rescinded upon their arrival at Benina International Airport in the city of Benghazi," the press release says. "They were duly informed of the imperative to depart Libyan territory forthwith and were declared persona non grata." It was not immediately clear what prompted the expulsion. The European Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment. This is a developing story.
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Euronews
Far-right Patriots for Europe lead negotiations on key climate file
The far-right Patriots for Europe group will lead negotiations on the EU's new climate target, MEPs and parliament officials told Euronews, a role that could derail the bloc's objective to reduce greenhouse emissions by 90% by 2040. 'The Patriots got the climate legislation file,' Iratxe Garcia, the leader of the socialist group told reporters during a press conference on the margins of the plenary in Strasbourg. 'They've got the rapporteurship… I mean it is the patriots who are going to be the lead negotiators.' Garcia referred to a recent Commission proposal to amend its EU Climate Law by setting a new target to reduce the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 90% by 2040. It is now up to the parliament and the council to discuss and adopt the text. Officials say giving the 2040 climate target file to the far-right Patriots for Europe in the Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee is the result of a complex system of attribution, which gives the large groups control over important files. The Patriots for Europe is the third largest group in the European Parliament and has 11 full fledged members in the ENVI committee, including from France's National Rally and Italy's Lega party. The group has systematically opposed the EU's climate policies, with National Rally leader Jordan Bardella calling for the immediate suspension of the EU's Green deal a few months ago. It will give the Patriots increasing influence over the EU's climate policy as rapporteurs are ultimately responsible for recommending a political line on the file. Though a rapporteur won't prevent other groups from reaching a deal on the text, he or she could slow down or complicate the legislative work. The Commission proposal is aimed at reaffirming the bloc's 'determination to tackle climate change' according to the Commission's website, and 'shape the path' to climate neutrality, an objective that is at the heart of the EU's green deal. The job represents a breach of the cordon sanitaire - the process through which centrist pro-European groups effectively club together to deny the right-wing fringe top jobs such as presidencies or vice-presidencies of the European Parliament's committees. The practice has historically excluded lawmakers from France's National Rally, Viktor Orbán's Fidesz and Matteo Salvini's Lega from power roles in the Parliament. Last October, Bardella and fellow Patriots' MEP Hungarian Kinga Gál filed a complaint to the European Court of Justice last week against their political groups' exclusion through the so-called 'cordon sanitaire' from leading positions at the European Parliament.
