On Tuesday 16 April, during a debate in the European Parliament, MEPs supported political negotiations in Libya, under the auspices of the United Nations.
They called on the EU to be united and play an active role in this process and to support the UN Special Envoy. “If we act together, there may be a chance [to come up with a solution, editor's note]; if we pretend, we have no chance”, said Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany).
But beyond this call, MEPs, like the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, highlighted the thousands of refugees trapped in detention centres in the country, who are in a “dramatic situation”, according to José Salafranca (EPP, Spain).
Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL, Italy) called on the EU to ensure that migrants trapped in camps receive the necessary water and food. “We must not turn our eyes away from the situation of refugees, who could become a risk group”, summarised Elena Valenciano (S&D, Spain).
The same concern was expressed by Charles Tannock (ECR, UK). According to him, beyond the risk of a new migration crisis in the Mediterranean, refugees could be forced to join militias. “These threats must be taken into account”, he warned.
Italian ENF MEP Mario Borghezio expressed concern about possible mass arrivals of migrants on European soil.
Before MEPs, the High Representative recalled that the EU was working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to evacuate them outside Libya, or to move them to safer places in Libya.
“Our work with UN agencies continues, but it is clear that conditions on the ground are becoming increasingly difficult every day”, she acknowledged, calling on the Libyan parties to allow “the rapid and unconditional evacuation of frontline detention centres” – as did UN High Commissioner Filippo Grandi. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)