High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell called the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord of Libya, Fayez al-Serraj, on 18 May to discuss the latest developments in the country.
High Representative Borrell conveyed his concerns over the escalation of fighting in and around Tripoli and the increasing shelling on densely populated residential areas, that have resulted in casualties and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
High Representative Borrell commended the Prime Minister for his government’s openness to participate actively in the Berlin process and reiterated the importance for all the parties of the conflict to halt the fighting, agree on a lasting ceasefire and resume political negotiations. He underlined the EU's continued firm commitment to a political solution to the Libyan crisis through the implementation of the Berlin Conference conclusions and reminded the Prime Minister of the EU’s active engagement to advance towards that objective.
High Representative Borrell and Prime Minister al-Serraj also spoke about the EU’s new military CSDP Operation Irini, which aims to end the illegal flow of weapons and military equipment to Libya that have been fuelling the ongoing conflict. The Operation is one of the EU's contributions to the return of stability in Libya and an operational expression of its concrete commitment to the UN-led Berlin process on Libya. The Operation is deploying its naval and aerial assets and using satellite imagery to ensure the broadest possible coverage, operating in the framework of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Details
- Publication date
- 19 May 2020
- Author
- Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations