Latest news with #OneLibya
Libyan Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Diplomatic turbulence in Benghazi won't derail EU–Libya ties
The EU delegation, known as Team Europe, held talks with the Government of National Unity in Tripoli on 8 July. A planned meeting in Benghazi did not go ahead due to protocol-related issues. Photo via X The European Union has sought to move past last week's diplomatic dispute in Benghazi, where a senior EU delegation was expelled shortly after arrival, reiterating its continued commitment to working with all relevant Libyan authorities on shared challenges — particularly irregular migration. The delegation — which included EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and interior ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta — was turned back upon landing at Benina Airport on Tuesday, 8 July. It had intended to hold meetings with officials in eastern Libya to discuss the recent surge in migrant crossings to Europe. Before travelling to Benghazi, the delegation met with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba and other members of the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli. Commissioner Brunner described those discussions as 'productive,' noting on social media that the visit reaffirmed a joint commitment to combat migrant smuggling and laid the foundations for broader cooperation. However, authorities in Benghazi — aligned with Prime Minister Osama Hammad — declared Brunner persona non grata and ordered the entire delegation to leave the country. The scheduled meetings were cancelled. EU: Incident was a 'protocol issue' European Commission officials have described the Benghazi episode as a 'protocol issue,' while avoiding further comment on the details. A spokesperson told The Brussels Times that the EU would continue its engagement across Libya and keep communication channels open with all key stakeholders. 'We are not here to assign blame or retell events,' the spokesperson added. 'What matters is that cooperation continues where it's needed most — on migration, stability, and regional security.' One Libya policy remains unchanged Despite the tensions, the European Union reaffirmed its long-standing 'One Libya' policy, under which it maintains engagement with authorities throughout the country while recognising the GNU in Tripoli as the result of the UN-led political process. A spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said the EU's position has not changed, confirming that the bloc works with a wide range of actors to address shared priorities. Media reports suggest that the breakdown in the Benghazi visit may have stemmed from concerns raised by EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando, who was reportedly reluctant to engage directly with senior officials from Hammad's government. Irregular migration on the rise The expulsion comes amid growing EU concerns over the increasing number of irregular migrants departing from Libya. According to recent data, more than 7,300 migrants have arrived in 2025 on the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos — up from around 5,000 in 2024. Both islands lack sufficient reception facilities, prompting the issue to be raised at the recent European Council summit. In response, the Greek government announced a temporary three-month suspension of asylum procedures for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, particularly Libya. The European Commission has said it will review the measure once national legislation has been finalised and enters into force. This echoes a similar move in 2020, when Greece suspended asylum claims following a border crisis with Turkey — a measure that drew criticism from rights groups and legal scholars. Questions over EU funding and rights safeguards The Benghazi incident has reignited debate over the EU's migration cooperation with Libya and its oversight mechanisms. A 2023 report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) criticised the EU's €5 billion Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) for insufficient focus on root causes of migration and inadequate monitoring of human rights conditions in recipient countries, including Libya. The same year, a joint investigation by Lighthouse Reports revealed that Frontex, the EU's border agency, had shared the coordinates of migrant boats in distress with a vessel reportedly operated by an armed group in eastern Libya — raising serious ethical and legal concerns. Despite these challenges, EU officials have reiterated their intention to maintain engagement with all sides in Libya, stressing the need for a comprehensive, coordinated approach to migration governance and regional security.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Should the European Union hold talks with Khalifa Haftar?
European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner and three ministers from EU countries were expelled from Libya on Tuesday due to a "protocol problem", according to Brussels. Sources told Euronews the issue arose after they wanted to meet General Khalifa Haftar, who controls large parts of eastern Libya. Following a meeting with the Libyan government of national unity (GNU) in Tripoli, the European delegation was scheduled to meet with Haftar in Benghazi to discuss migration. However, Haftar apparently tried to force the EU's hand by imposing the presence of his ministers, which then led to the expulsion of European officials as "personae no gratae". "It was simply a ruse on Haftar's part to try and legitimise his government and the civilian face of his military dictatorship", says Tarek Megerisi, senior researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). "He declared European diplomats personae non gratae and essentially sent them back to Europe because he was unable to use them for this political charade he was trying to pull off," he believes. A divided country After the civil war and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya eventually became divided into two. In the west of the country, the UN-recognised government of national unity is led by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah. The east is controlled by Haftar, head of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army. And Brussels formally recognises only the government in Tripoli. "The European Union is working with the government of national unity, which emerged from the United Nations mediation process as an internationally recognised national executive. The UN is engaging with the authorities throughout the country in line with our One Libya policy", said Anouar El Anouni, European Commission spokesman for foreign affairs. However, faced with the absence of centralised governance, territorial division and the challenge of migration, the EU is also engaging with non-state actors. "At a lower level, the EU is also interacting with militia leaders and groups running detention centres. At the level of member states and some EU representation, they engage with the Haftar family as the de facto rulers of eastern Libya, for what they claim is political realism," says Tarek Megerisi. The European Union is cooperating with Libya to combat illegal immigration and smuggling networks. "The EU has been working, both the EU and the member states, particularly Italy, with the Libyan coastguard in the west to try and reduce migratory flows in one way or another," James Moran, former EU ambassador to Libya and associate researcher at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), told Euronews. "The EU has also supported Libyan efforts to take back migrants once they are back on Libyan soil. This, of course, has been controversial because there have been a lot of questions about human rights, about the treatment they receive when they are in Libya," he adds. The NGO Amnesty International has accused Brussels of complicity in human rights violations against migrants in Libya. A Russian proxy In recent years, crossings to Europe from eastern Libya have been on the increase. "Migration concerns are well known throughout Europe. And since (Haftar) controls such a large part of Libya's coastline, I think it was logical to talk to him," Moran said. "What wouldn't have made sense would have been to give him any kind of recognition, de facto or otherwise," he explained. However, questions remain about the EU's need to meet Haftar, whose links to Moscow and President Vladimir Putin are well-established. "We are in the process of strengthening a Russian proxy that is antagonistic to European interests. And so, once all the mess of the current crisis is sorted out, it's pretty clear that what Europe really needs in Libya is a stable and sovereign government," Megerisi told Euronews. In fact, the Haftar family is exploiting migration to try to obtain concessions from the EU, according to Megerisi. In recent days, the Greek islands have seen a large influx of migrants from Libya, prompting the EU member state to suspend asylum applications from the North African country.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
hould the European Union hold talks with Khalifa Haftar?
European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner and three ministers from EU countries were expelled from Libya on Tuesday due to a "protocol problem", according to Brussels. Sources told Euronews the issue arose after they wanted to meet General Khalifa Haftar, who controls large parts of eastern Libya. Following a meeting with the Libyan government of national unity (GNU) in Tripoli, the European delegation was scheduled to meet with Haftar in Benghazi to discuss migration. However, Haftar apparently tried to force the EU's hand by imposing the presence of his ministers, which then led to the expulsion of European officials as "personae no gratae". "It was simply a ruse on Haftar's part to try and legitimise his government and the civilian face of his military dictatorship", says Tarek Megerisi, senior researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). "He declared European diplomats personae non gratae and essentially sent them back to Europe because he was unable to use them for this political charade he was trying to pull off," he believes. A divided country After the civil war and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya eventually became divided into two. In the west of the country, the UN-recognised government of national unity is led by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah. The east is controlled by Haftar, head of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army. And Brussels formally recognises only the government in Tripoli. "The European Union is working with the government of national unity, which emerged from the United Nations mediation process as an internationally recognised national executive. The UN is engaging with the authorities throughout the country in line with our One Libya policy", said Anouar El Anouni, European Commission spokesman for foreign affairs. However, faced with the absence of centralised governance, territorial division and the challenge of migration, the EU is also engaging with non-state actors. "At a lower level, the EU is also interacting with militia leaders and groups running detention centres. At the level of member states and some EU representation, they engage with the Haftar family as the de facto rulers of eastern Libya, for what they claim is political realism," says Tarek Megerisi. The European Union is cooperating with Libya to combat illegal immigration and smuggling networks. "The EU has been working, both the EU and the member states, particularly Italy, with the Libyan coastguard in the west to try and reduce migratory flows in one way or another," James Moran, former EU ambassador to Libya and associate researcher at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), told Euronews. "The EU has also supported Libyan efforts to take back migrants once they are back on Libyan soil. This, of course, has been controversial because there have been a lot of questions about human rights, about the treatment they receive when they are in Libya," he adds. The NGO Amnesty International has accused Brussels of complicity in human rights violations against migrants in Libya. A Russian proxy In recent years, crossings to Europe from eastern Libya have been on the increase. "Migration concerns are well known throughout Europe. And since (Haftar) controls such a large part of Libya's coastline, I think it was logical to talk to him," Moran said. "What wouldn't have made sense would have been to give him any kind of recognition, de facto or otherwise," he explained. However, questions remain about the EU's need to meet Haftar, whose links to Moscow and President Vladimir Putin are well-established. "We are in the process of strengthening a Russian proxy that is antagonistic to European interests. And so, once all the mess of the current crisis is sorted out, it's pretty clear that what Europe really needs in Libya is a stable and sovereign government," Megerisi told Euronews. In fact, the Haftar family is exploiting migration to try to obtain concessions from the EU, according to Megerisi. In recent days, the Greek islands have seen a large influx of migrants from Libya, prompting the EU member state to suspend asylum applications from the North African country.
