Brussels, 17/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has attacked the “unilateral and disproportionate decision” taken by Libya on 14 February to no longer grant visas to Schengen area country nationals. This measure was taken as part of the dispute between Switzerland, which is a member of the Schengen agreement. The decision now includes all Schengen members and is a consequence of the escalation in the dispute between Libya and Switzerland regarding the arrest made in Geneva in July 2008 of the son of Colonel Mouammar Qaddafi and his wife, following a complaint made against them by their servants. Despite the swift release of the Qaddafi couple and official apologies made by the Swiss foreign minister, Libya is still detaining two Swiss nationals, which has led to Swiss reprisals, including the country's decision to include Libya on the “black list” with regard to granting visas in the Schengen area. The tit-for-tat approach adopted by Tripoli targets all members of this Schengen area, not only Switzerland. This issue has been included on the Foreign Affairs Council agenda on Monday 22 February.
The EU response was provided on Monday evening by Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs. Her spokesperson regretted that refused entry to Libya also applied to those who had already obtained European visas. Nine Italians were subsequently deported from Tripoli airport and three Dutch citizens were unable to take a flight to the city. New restrictions, which do not, however, appear to affect European diplomats and long-term residents, will be examined at the “visa group” during a meeting in Brussels. Sources in Brussels, explained that this group is made up of services from the Commission, Council, member states and those responsible for managing Schengen area programmes.
Since its initial declarations, the European Commission has softened the tone and in reference to a declaration from Malström's spokesperson declared: “We need to remain extremely calm and allow diplomacy to follow its course”. The Swiss press appears to be suggesting that Brussels could find itself bamboozled by Italy, which is accusing Switzerland of exaggerating. Switzerland rejects Italy's accusation that it has involved all Schengen area countries in the dispute. The Italian foreign minister, Franco Frattini, stated on Swiss television: “We don't have problems with Libya … we are helping Switzerland but it cannot take the rest of Europe as a hostage”. Frattini also held a meeting with his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, whose country also recommended that its nationals postponed their possible visits to Libya.
The diplomatic wrangling appeared to dominate the situation in Berne, where the press unleashed an attack against Libya and its own European neighbours, accusing them of a lack of solidarity. The Tribune de Genève said that “the Federal Council yesterday reaffirmed (Tuesday) that it would continue to grant a limited number of entry visas to Libyans into the European Schengen area. But can Switzerland count on a long-term solidarity of the European Union? Italy, in any case, has already chosen sides”. The same newspaper said that in an effort to attract Italy's support to its cause, Micheline Calmy-Rey had had a meeting yesterday with her Italian counterpart Franco Frattini. A second exchange of views is planned for today (Wednesday), following a meeting between the Italian, Libyan and Maltese foreign ministers. Bernard Kouchner explained that France would remain neutral.
In its editorial, the Tribune de Genève welcomed the Swiss government's “somersault of honour”. It also said that “this dictatorship” would not be able to go without European productive forces and investments indefinitely. The newspaper said that the line that Libya had taken on visas could turn out to be a bluff, on the condition that the cowardice of their Italian neighbour and the complicity of the no longer neutral Bernard Kouchner did not contaminate the entire European Union. The newspaper said that the European Union should not fall into the trap of dividing democratic countries created by Colonel Quaddafi. (…) It stated that although it was understandable that economic interests are taken to in to account by France and Italy, it is more difficult to admit that this approach is done so blindly. Is a Euro-Swiss crisis beckoning? (F.B./transl.fl)