Brussels, 20/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Libya must do more to protect migrants crossing its territory and recognise the status of refugees before the European Parliament (EP) can give its green light to any future cooperation agreement with Tripoli. In addition, the EU states should only return migrants to Libya if certain standards are met. That was the stark message delivered by the EP on Thursday 20 January, with the adoption of the report by Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal) on negotiations on the EU-Libya framework agreement.
This planned framework agreement would cover political relations, immigration and energy, and could, in the long run, pave the way for a free trade area. Negotiations began in November 2008 and the accord would, if concluded, be the first bilateral contractual relationship between the EU and Libya.
In their recommendation to the Council, MEPs back the idea of stepping up EU-Libya relations and opening an EU delegation office in Tripoli. However, they call for stricter conditions to ensure basic freedoms.
Return of illegal immigrants. The Council and Commission must obtain guarantees from Libya, which has a record of constant human rights violations, before signing an agreement on the readmission of migrants, the Parliament says. It also argues that any readmission agreement with Libya should exclude migrants who declare themselves to be asylum-seekers, refugees or persons in need of protection. MEPs also want “collective expulsions” to be ruled out.
Refugees in limbo. Libya has become a major transit country for sub-Saharan migrants heading north to Europe, especially to Malta and Italy. Many are asylum-seekers coming from African conflict zones such as Somalia, Eritrea, Darfur and western Africa. According to MEPs, it is crucial that Tripoli guarantees the protection of these migrants, recognises the status of refugees and grants the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNCHR) a legal presence in the country. The UNCHR office in Tripoli was closed in June 2010. Libya should also impose a moratorium on the death penalty. The EP campaigned strongly for he death sentences on five Bulgarian nurses in 2007 to be revoked. (L.C./transl.rt)