Brussels, 04/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament called on Thursday 4 February for international intervention in Libya.
An international coalition is needed to address the increasing presence of so-called ISIS/Daesh in Libya which is destabilising the country and threatening, not only the neighbouring countries of the Sahel and the Sahara, but also the EU, say MEPs in a joint resolution put down by the Greens/EFA, ECR, ALDE, S&D and EPP Groups that was adopted by 478 votes to 81, with 81 abstentions.
In the resolution, Parliament, which welcomes the Libyan political agreement of 17 December, calls for the approval of the government of national accord by the chamber of representatives. MEPs also call on the EU to impose targeted sanctions - travel bans and freezing of assets - against those persons and organisations which do not respect the Libyan political agreement.
Parliament says that the member states should not act alone but should support the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy in devising an overall strategy in coordination with the United Nations support mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Libyan authorities that will assist democratic transition and bolster the new government. Pleased that the EU is ready to provide immediate support in areas designated with the new government as priorities, Parliament calls on the EU and the United Nations to make provision for assistance for state-building, security, peace keeping and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
MEPs believe that the EU should support reform of the security sector and, under the supervision of the government of national accord, help build effective and efficient armed and police forces able together to control all of Libya's territory and waters and to ensure the security of its borders. Similarly, the EU must use diplomatic and foreign policy instruments, inter alia, the common security and defence policy (CSDP), to encourage the countries of the Middle East and North Africa to contribute positively to the Libyan transition process, MEPs add. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)