Strasbourg, 15/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 January, the European Parliament called on the European Union to adopt targeted sanctions “immediately” - including “asset freezes and travel bans” for those responsible for armed violence and human rights violations and abuses and for boycotting the UN sponsored negotiations.
Adopting a joint resolution, MEPs believe that these sanctions would support the “tireless” efforts of the United Nations special representative for Libya, Bernardino Leon, in brokering the political dialogue. Stating that there is “no military solution to the current conflict”, MEPs support the talks in Geneva and called on all the parties in the conflict to agree to freezing their military operations, as proposed by Leon, so as to create an appropriate atmosphere for the talks. They call for an “unconditional” ceasefire.
MEPs also call on the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) to direct the member states' action. They believe that the EU should help establish a democratic, stable and prosperous state, and remedy the humanitarian situation. In addition, MEPs call on the high representative of the EU to review the mandate of the European Assistance Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya, which is currently in Tunisia.
MEPs are greatly concerned about the growing presence of terrorist groups and extremist movements in Libya. Underlining the destabilising impact of the conflict on other countries in the region of the Sahel and on European security, they call on the neighbouring countries and regional actors to refrain from all action that could exacerbate the divisions and undermine Libya's democratic transition. They also call on these countries to support the Ghadames process launched by the United Nations. (CG)