As the first cases of coronavirus were reported in Libya, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy called for an immediate ceasefire on behalf of the EU on 27 March.
“The European Union and its Member States regret that the fighting has increased in Libya despite the international calls for a humanitarian truce to help contain the Coronavirus pandemic in the country”, the High Representative stressed in his statement. He said the challenging circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic make the need to stop the fighting even more urgent.
“We urge all the relevant Libyan actors to immediately stop the fighting and engage in reaching a political solution to the crisis”, the Europeans demanded, explaining that a truce would make it easier to take all the necessary measures to protect the population from the pandemic. “We strongly support and encourage efforts of Libyan health authorities to come together to assist the Libyan population. Health workers should be protected at all times”, they advised.
The Europeans appealed to the leaders of both sides - the President of the Presidential Council of Libya, Fayez el-Sarraj, and Marshal Khalifa Haftar - to commit themselves to respecting the draft ceasefire agreement drawn up by the Joint Military Committee, so that all available means can be deployed as a matter of priority to contain the coronavirus crisis.
Moreover, all parties must engage constructively in intra-Libyan negotiations to agree on urgent economic and financial measures, the Europeans warned, also believing it crucial to safeguard oil resources, protect its infrastructure and resume production “as a matter of urgency, under the auspices of the National Oil Company”.
The Europeans also called on all UN Member States to respect and enforce the arms embargo, while the new EU mission, Irini, is expected to be in place within the next few hours (see EUROPE 12455/24). All these States must also stop the influx of foreign fighters into Libya and refrain from any destabilising actions that could further deteriorate the situation, they added.
The declaration also reiterates the willingness of the EU and the Member States to deploy all the instruments necessary to ensure full implementation of the Berlin Conference Conclusions. It is necessary to appoint a new Special Representative, following the resignation of Ghassan Salamé, the statement added.
Furthermore, on Monday 30 March, the EU extended its sanctions against the President of the Libyan Council of Deputies in the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, the President of the National General Congress, Nouri Abou Sahmein, and the Prime Minister of this Congress, Khalifa al-Ghweil, who is not recognised by the international community, until 2 October. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)