The EU and its Member States welcomed, on Sunday 7 February, the agreement reached on Friday 5 February by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) on a transitional unified executive authority for Libya.
“This is an important milestone in the Berlin Process and on the way to lead the country towards national elections to be held on 24 December 2021”, according to a statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
The Europeans said they were ready to work with the new President of the Presidency Council, Mohammad Younes Menfi, and the new Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah. They also stressed the need for the swift formation of a new inclusive government, encouraging the House of Representatives to vote on the results of the LPDF on schedule. Mr Dbeibah, who held important posts under Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, has 21 days to form his cabinet and a further 21 days to obtain a vote of confidence in Parliament, by 19 March at the latest.
The High Representative also called on all Libyan stakeholders and the international community to show strong resolve in supporting the transitional unified executive authority in the interest of the stabilisation of the country and national reconciliation. “In this regard, the EU recalls its instrument of sanctions against possible spoilers”, the statement warns.
According to Mr Borrell, the timely preparation of national elections should be the “main priority”, including the adoption of the necessary electoral laws and their constitutional basis, the concrete implementation of all provisions of the 23 October national ceasefire agreement and the necessary economic reforms.
“The EU will be ready to support this process and urges all Libyan and international actors to do so in respect of Libya’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty”, he added.
See the statement: http://bit.ly/3aIE5YH (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)