Brussels, 26/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - As expected Colonel Kadhafi will meet on 27 April the president of the European Commission Romano Prodi (EUROPE 24 April, p 5 and 23 April p 4), confirmed the latter's spokesperson, Reijo Kemppinen. Some Commissioners will attend discussions, he indicated, adding that he was not yet able to provide a list of those attending.
The opening of direct high level discussions between the European Commission and Libya has sealed the numerous attempts, also made by the European Parliament and Member States to bring this country back into the fold of normal diplomatic relations. Discussions were never actually interrupted but the first Libyan commitments to enter into the Mediterranean orbit were not finalised, reflecting the hesitations prevailing in Libya. Libyan government and diplomats stalled on each occasion due to the lack of willingness of Colonel Khadafi to agree to preliminary conditions demanded by the Europeans. In order to mitigate any discouragement engendered by this approach, the EU decided to include Libya as an observer country in all Euro-Mediterranean meetings and initiated various technical discussions, encouraged by the lifting of the embargo 12 September 2003 of international sanctions against the country. On 16 June 2003, the Council of the EU formally requested the re-opening of talks on the subject of the fight against illegal immigration. On 3 July 2003, the Commission called on the Council to authorise and negotiate a fisheries partnership agreement. This issue, which was discussed in exploratory talks with Libyans does not, however, appear to have substantially progressed in internal negotiations at the Council. The Commission has suggested including a broad partnership with the country (in the area of fisheries), which has 2000 km of Mediterranean coastline. This partnership would also direct fishing activities and cooperation for assessing and preserving stocks. A Community contribution also looked at supporting development of this sector in Libya.
Since then Libya has made new pledges to the international community (accession to the Convention on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the decision of 19 December to abandon its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons research programme). In return the USA has relaxed the economic embargo by authorising the purchase of Libyan oil and most trade between the two countries. Many visits to Tripoli have been made in the meantime, including that of Prime Minister Tony Blair, as evidence of a return to normal of this country, the wealth of which means that its almost 5.5 million inhabitants enjoy a higher than average living standard in the region (USD 6,200 in 2002) . The business potential is enormous, Libya, according to Community sources could provide a high potential of the EU's natural gas but management of its economy and its finance has been judged erratic and its industry till now too oil orientated. Attempts at diversification have been envisaged to open up to tourism, agriculture, fishing and mines.