The Council of the European Union decided on Monday 17 December to strengthen the EU Integrated Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) by assigning it the task of actively supporting the Libyan authorities in their efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks involved in the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in human beings and terrorism.
Until now, the mission's mandate has been to plan a future EU civilian mission while engaging with the Libyan authorities (see EUROPE 12063).
The Council also allocated a budget of 61.6 million euros for the period from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020, the new expiry date of the mission (see EUROPE 11829).
In order to support the fight against criminal networks, EUBAM Libya's mission is to ensure "capacity-building in the areas of border management, law enforcement and criminal justice.", according to a Council communiqué. Specifically, it advises the Libyan authorities on the development of a national integrated border management strategy and supports capacity building, strategic planning and coordination between the relevant Libyan authorities. It will also manage and coordinate projects related to its mandate.
The mission, led by the Italian Vincenzo Tagliaferri, has its headquarters in Tripoli. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)