Brussels, 20/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and most of its international partners no longer demand that Muammar Gaddafi step down before negotiations can start on transition in Libya from the military regime in place before the insurrection to a new model of society. This was how a close EU source described the results of the recent round of diplomacy over the Libyan crisis. The source would only speak off the record, commenting on the outcome of the meeting in Doha last week of the Contact Group on Libya. As far as the Contact Group is concerned, both negotiations and a ceasefire between the rebels and the regime can start before Gaddafi steps down, but at the moment this contrasts with the hard line taken by the rebels and their call for the immediate departure of Gaddafi and his family, along with Gaddafi and his family's determination to remain in power. The flurry of diplomatic activity has led in recent days to the devising of a number of roadmaps for peace and reconciliation, none of which has yet been accepted by the parties concerned. The EU has not yet had any direct contact with Gaddafi or his family, but some of the dictator's emissaries have travelled to EU capitals, like Athens, Malta and London, to repeat the message: It is not the international community or the people of Benghazi who have the power to decide who is going to govern Libya - it is the Libyan people who must decide. If there is insufficient progress by mid-May, then it is highly likely that the matter will be discussed again at the next meeting of the Contact Group (in Rome on Thursday 12 May). Although the military clashes in the country seem to be a no-win solution, the European Union is continuing to examine and prepare for a humanitarian mission, possibly backed by soldiers on the ground, if necessary. EU sources see the most delicate situation being that in Misrata, although news from the city varies widely from one source to the next. The idea of military backing for a humanitarian operation is not uniformly supported in the EU and is even criticised by charities and humanitarian groups. In a press release, Oxfam International describes the idea as an “unnecessary, expensive and dangerous precedent”, and urges the EU and the international community make “a united and intensified diplomatic effort to end hostilities and reach a satisfactory political outcome to the conflict”. This contrasts with the attitude of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, which calls for “EU naval action in humanitarian relief for Libya”. The idea of naval action is not unanimously supported by the EU27, not at the moment at any rate. (Gp/transl.fl).