Ontwikkelingen in Libië: een overzicht van reacties EU (en)

Brussels, 4 March 2011

Developments in Libya: an overview of the EU i's response

As events keep unfolding in Libya, the European Union is reacting in many ways. It has imposed sanctions against the Libyan leadership. In a spirit of solidarity, the member states are coordinating repatriation of their nationals and are running a joint border control operation in Italy. Humanitarian aid is being sent to the region. On 11 March EU leaders will meet to discuss the strategic lines of the Union´s response.

Libya at the top of the agenda

The EU is following the situation in Libya with great concern. It strongly condemns the violence and use of force against civilians and deplores the repression against peaceful demonstrators which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. EU Foreign Affairs, Interior, Energy and Defence ministers met in the past few days to assess the situation. The President of the European Council has convened an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on 11 March to discuss his proposals on the strategic lines of the Union´s reaction to developments in Libya and in Northern Africa. The European Commission has allocated 30 million euros to address humanitarian needs in Libya and neighbouring countries.

Arms embargo and other sanctions

On 28 February, the EU imposed an arms embargo on Libya in line with the UN Security Council resolution of 26 February and prohibited trade with Libya in any equipment which might be used for internal repression. The decision in the Council was taken with unprecedented speed.

The Union also imposed a visa ban and an asset freeze on Muammar Gaddafi and other persons responsible for the violent clampdown on civilians. The sanctions adopted by the EU both implement the measures called for by the UN and go further.

Negotiations on an EU-Libya framework agreement and ongoing cooperation contracts with the country have been suspended as of 22 February.

Speeding up the repatriation of EU nationals

The EU has been pooling its resources to evacuate its citizens from Libya. Diplomatic missions of EU member states in Tripoli have been working day and night on repatriation of nationals in coordination with the Hungarian embassy representing the Union on the ground. Since 23 February, as part of the Civil Protection Mechanism, the Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC i) has been helping with identifying and facilitating assets for evacuation, including by sea. The

coordinated action is focusing on the area around Benghazi but also covers other parts of the country. As of 3 March, it is roughly estimated that there are still about 1100 EU citizens in Libya of whom approximately 74 wish to leave the country. The European Commission has received requests for transport co-financing for evacuation operations by Hungary and Bulgaria, which evacuated citizens of other Member States as well.

Ongoing evacuations focus on Tripoli, Benghazi and Jalu / Nafura region. The MIC is preparing contingency planning for an eventual evacuation of EU nationals by sea from the wider Tripoli region in case evacuation by air becomes impossible.

The EU Military Staff's planning and movement cell is liaising with member states and the MIC to facilitate the coordination of military assets for evacuation or humanitarian purposes. The EU Situation Centre is monitoring the situation and assisting member states in their efforts. The EU's consular on-line system is contributing to the exchange of information between member states. The EU's Satellite Centre is providing imagery to support evacuation efforts.

Border control operation

In the central Mediterranean area, the EU border control agency Frontex i and Italy are conducting a joint operation called Hermes 2011. Launched on 20 February following a formal request from the Italian government, the aim of the operation is to help Italy to cope with actual and potential migratory flows from Northern Africa. A large number of EU member states have provided technical assets (such as naval and aerial means) and specialised personnel.

In addition, Frontex and Europol i have started risk analysis for the region to be able to better respond to developments on the ground.

Humanitarian aid

The European Commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response visited the region on 2 March. The EU has allocated 30 million euros to address humanitarian needs in Libya and neighbouring countries. Initially, medical and food aid, shelter and other necessities are being provided to refugees crossing into Tunisia and Egypt. As soon as the security situation in Libya allows, aid will also be provided inside the country. However, the humanitarian situation in Libya is still largely unknown, as access is very limited and the presence of humanitarian organisations remains sparse. Experts from the European Commission have been deployed inside Libya (the eastern part) where they are working on a first assessment of humanitarian needs. Furthermore, Hungarian Minister of State Enikő Győri and Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva i have visited Tunisia’s border with Libya on 3 March to gather first hand information. Last week, two teams of ECHO i (EU humanitarian aid and civil protection) experts were deployed on the borders of Libya with Tunisia and Egypt to analyse the humanitarian crisis.

Following the joint appeal by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration i for a massive humanitarian evacuation programme for tens of thousands of Egyptians and other third country nationals on the Tunisian and Egyptian borders, the European Commission has already pledged a large portion of its funding to these two organizations.

Support for the democratic movement

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton i has established a task force bringing together European External Action Service and Commission experts to adapt the EU's existing instruments for helping the countries of Northern Africa. The aim is to provide a comprehensive package of measures tailored to the specific needs of each country.

Contact:           Gergely Polner

Spokesperson

gergely.polner@mfa.gov.hu + 32 2 234 1283