Brussels, 04/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 3 March, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini gave her support to the resumption of the talks between the Libyan parties which is due to take place in Morocco on 5 March and which, in Mogherini's view, “will pave the way for a much needed political agreement on a government of national unity in Libya”. Stating that the crisis in Libya is the most dangerous in the EU's southern neighbourhood and that there is a real risk of the crisis becoming worse, Mogherini said that the Libyan political dialogue must succeed “in order to stop the free fall of the country that we are witnessing and the institutional vacuum which has created a breeding ground for terrorist groups like Daesh” (Islamic State -IS).
Mogherini reiterated that the EU, like the rest of the international community, continued to support the efforts of the UN secretary general's special representative, Bernardino Leon, and she said she is in constant contact with him. “All 28 EU member states have shown their willingness to address the crisis. Now, more than ever, we need to do our part”, Mogherini stated. “The EU is ready to fully assist a government of national unity in Libya in the common fight against Daesh”, she said, adding that the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers on 6-7 March and the Council on 16 March would be “the occasion to discuss and agree on concrete steps”.
Elsewhere, European Council President Donald Tusk, France's President François Hollande, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and US President Barack Obama discussed the worsening situation in Libya on 3 March, and the threat of IS. According to the White House, the leaders agreed on the need to continue consulting on how to stop this threat and how to support a political resolution to the conflict. Libya will be discussed at the European Council on 19-20 March. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)