Brussels, 30/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union will be represented at the highest level at the international conference in support of Libya on 1st September in Paris to confirm its commitment to assist the Libyan people as the end of the Gaddafi era fast approaches. Support will help Libya face the humanitarian emergency, carry out its transition towards democracy and bring about its economic recovery. This announcement was made to the press on Tuesday 30 August by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, speaking after his bilateral meeting with Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, on the most pressing priorities.
“I will participate with the president of the European Council and the high representative in the Paris international conference in support to Libya. The Commission continues to play a central role in European support to Libya and, together with the international community, we are dealing with the humanitarian impact of the conflict and we stand ready to support the democratic transition and economic reconstruction based on social justice and territorial integrity. The way is now open in Libya for freedom and self determination - thanks to the courage of the Libyans themselves who have proven once again that human dignity is stronger than the chance of repression”, said José Manuel Barroso.
The president of the European Commission said that Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, was the first to go to Libya to open a humanitarian office in Tripoli (see EUROPE 10440). When asked about the prospect of aid to Libya over the longer term, Barroso confirmed that, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian aid, they also have a policy for Libya, given that the future of Libya should be “designed” with the Libyan authorities. The framework for shared prosperity and democracy, discussed at the European Council for aid to Tunisia and Egypt after the Arab spring, “is what we shall be putting to the Libyan authorities once they are fully established. We have already defined what we are ready to do, and we are now finalising this for working with the Libyan authorities for prosperity and democracy”, he said.
In a press release published on 30 August, the S&D Group at the European Parliament urges the EU to step up its humanitarian aid in order to meet the emerging needs of the Libyan people, especially in Tripoli, “to release frozen Libyan assets to help the Libyan Transitional Council deliver the governance needed in this transitional period … to address the most pressing needs of the Libyan people”. It also calls on Catherine Ashton to open a fully-fledged EU delegation in the Libyan capital as soon as possible. The S&D Group expects the National Transitional Council will “fulfil its responsibilities and deliver on the commitments it has made to build a tolerant, unified and democratic state, protecting universal human rights for all Libyan citizens, as well as for migrant workers or foreigners”. (A.N./transl.jl)