Brussels, 31/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 31 January, EU foreign ministers approved the Crisis Management Concept (CMC) for establishing a “possible” civilian mission in Libya. The aim of the mission would be to provide assistance to the Libyan authorities on border management, not only land borders but also maritime and airspace borders, by setting up personnel training programmes and ensuring support at ministerial level.
Adoption of the CMC marks a new stage in implementation of the mission, with the launch of the operational planning process. This new stage, however, is still far from being the last. An assessment mission is to go Libya to allow Brussels to adopt several planning documents. After the decision relating to deployment of the mission, which could take place during summer 2013, work will initially focus on strengthening command structures and improved coordination between the different Libyan institutions. The initial mandate of the mission would last for two years. Training should begin in Tripoli before being “extended to other locations”, security conditions allowing.
After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, many military arsenals had been pillaged. Weapons, including missile launchers, then found their way into the hands of various Libyan militia groups, as well as terrorist organisations such as the AQIM, many experts say. The link with the conflict in Mali is still difficult to establish with any certainty but, as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton pointed out after the Council, the future European mission in Libya “is not only important for Libya, but for the entire region”. (JK/transl.jl)