On Monday 15 January, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) hailed the announcement by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the complete elimination of Category 2 chemical materials removed from Libya and transported to Germany for destruction.
In a press release, the EEAS spokesperson described this elimination as "a positive step towards the complete and permanent eradication of all chemical weapons in the country". The elimination follows a request by the Libyan government of national accord for assistance to destroy its remaining Category 2 chemical weapons on an expedited basis outside Libya.
The stocks (around 500 tonnes) left the country via the port of Mistrata at the end of August 2016 on board a Danish vessel to be transported to Münster in Germany in September 2016 (see EUROPE 11620). "The European Union commends the joint international efforts by several EU member states and other partner countries, as well as the cooperation by the government of national accord, which facilitated the removal of the chemical weapons", the EEAS spokesperson added, saying that the EU remained "engaged to further assist Libya in the process towards chemical demilitarisation".
The EU has furthermore recently concluded a contract with the OPCW worth €3.3 million to support the decontamination of the former storage site of the chemical materials in Libya. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)