Brussels, 16/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 16 March, the EU foreign affairs ministers asked High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to “present as soon as possible proposals on possible common security and defence policy (CSDP) activities in support of the security arrangements, in close coordination with the UN, Libya, key partners and regional actors”.
The Council adds in its conclusions that these proposals will be made as part of the wider package of policy actions in the context of a framework policy for the day to day management of the crisis - a policy which will be developed by Mogherini and the European Commission. According to a European source, Mogherini is said to have proposed three types of CSDP missions during the Council - observation of the ceasefire, a naval operation and the protection of the ceasefire. She announced that she would make more detailed proposals “at the next Foreign Affairs Council at the latest” - in other words, by 20 April. She added that she would report to the European Council on 20 March.
During the Foreign Affairs Council debate, several ministers stressed the need to be realistic as regards the EU's capacities. A number of them also underlined the need to give priority to a political agreement. Indeed, the EU's aid is linked to an agreement on a national unity government and to related security arrangements. “The EU stands ready to enhance its support to Libya and contribute to the successful implementation of the agreements through the ongoing support to key Libyan institutions and in key areas, including rule of law, economic cooperation and disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR), making full use of all its instruments”, the ministers state.
The EU is also ready to strengthen its commitment in the fight against terrorism, offering support to Libya - should a national unity government be formed - and to the neighbouring countries in order to enhance their capacities to fight against terrorism in full respect of human rights and the rule of law.
In addition, the Council calls on Mogherini and the European Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy for Libya, taking account of the regional context.
Dialogue must now make a breakthrough. In their conclusions, the ministers call on all the Libyan parties to participate constructively in the UN-facilitated dialogue so as to ensure the swift formation of a national unity government capable of bringing progress to the democratic transition and of starting the process of rebuilding the country. The discussions are due to resume this Thursday. “The dialogue must now make a decisive breakthrough because failure on a political agreement would jeopardise the unity and objectives of the February revolution”, the Council states. “Libya is now at a crossroads”, it adds, calling on all parties to take their responsibilities immediately by participating in the dialogue constructively, fully implementing the ceasefire and refraining from any action that could derail the dialogue process. The EU does not only support the discussions under the aegis of the UN, but also the different options of the talks that are currently under way, said Mogherini, mentioning the meeting of the political parties in Algeria and the meeting the EU will organise with the Libyan local authorities next week.
The EU also asks all Libya's regional actors and neighbours to use their influence on all the national actors to ensure the success of the negotiations and the democratic transition.
The ministers reiterate that the EU has established a legal framework that will enable it to introduce restrictive measures, if necessary and in full coordination with the UN, against spoilers of the dialogue process. (Camille-Cerise Gessant and Jan Kordys).