On Saturday 22 August, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, welcomed the announcements made the previous day by Fayez al-Sarraj, the President of the Presidency Council, and Aguila Saleh, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, that fighting had ceased in Libya and elections would soon be held.
Al-Sarraj called for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in March 2021.
In a statement issued on behalf of the EU, Borrell said that the announcements are “a constructive first step forward, which demonstrates the determination of the Libyan leaders to overcome the current stalemate and creates a new hope for a common ground towards a peaceful political solution to the longstanding Libyan crisis and the termination of all foreign interference throughout the country”.
In particular, the High Representative stressed that the EU fully supports the agreement around the principle of immediately ceasing all military activities across Libya, which will require the departure of all foreign fighters and mercenaries present in Libya, as well as the resumption of the negotiating process in the framework of the UN-led Berlin process. He therefore urged all Libyan parties, and all those supporting them “in any form”, to translate these principles into concrete actions on the ground, leading to a permanent ceasefire, as part of the discussions within the 5+5 Joint Military Committee, and to relaunch the political process.
Borrell took note of the announcements regarding the lifting of the blockade on oil infrastructure, and called for them be followed by concrete developments. He also looked forward to the implementation of economic reforms with a view to agreeing on a fair and transparent distribution mechanism for oil revenues and to enhancing the governance of Libyan economic and financial institutions.
The EU reiterated its full support for the UN and the Libyans in implementing these principles. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)