Brussels, 21/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - A European source told several journalists on Monday 20 April that the European foreign ministers favoured a civilian mission should there be a common security and defence policy (CSDP) mission in Libya if a national unity government comes to light.
During a very short debate in the Council, the ministers continued to discuss the options that would be open to them if a political solution emerges from the Libyan chaos (see EUROPE 11275). “The emphasis was on a civilian CSDP mission”, the source stated, highlighting border management and regional border management. In 2003, the EU set up the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya), which has now been suspended due to the situation in the country.
The European source also said that the civilian CSDP missions set up in Africa (such as EUCAP Sahel Mali and EUCAP Sahel Niger) could be extended to Libya.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) will continue to prepare the options but with emphasis on the civilian, the source stated. In her working document published by Italian media, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini highlighted five CSDP options: (1) maintaining a ceasefire, (2 and 3) controlling the border, local or regional, in cooperation with Egypt and Tunisia, (4) monitoring the sea, and (5) monitoring strategic infrastructure.
However, “nothing is off the discussion table”, the European source stated. During a press conference, Mogherini said that the EU was ready to support a national unity government with “all” the means it had available, “from humanitarian to civilian, from border management to institution-building, including through common security and defence policy measures”. These measures could be decided upon when there is a national unity government and as part of an international framework, Mogherini added.
Members of the EEAS were reportedly sent to Tunis to make the link and see what was needed on the ground. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)