Speech delivered by Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Várhelyi, on behalf of High-Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

“Madam President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],

First, I would like to thank Rapporteur [Giuliano] Pisapia, and those who have contributed to this report.

We very much agree with your recommendations. Active and positive engagement, in and with Libya, and stepping up work toward a comprehensive political solution that addresses all challenges on the, is crucial.

After the hope and the progress, we saw thanks to the Berlin Process in 2021, Libya is again in a dangerous political stalemate.

There is a large consensus that the only sustainable way forward is to encourage a consensual and inclusive solution, Libyan-led and Libyan-owned. This is in the best interest of the Libyan people who deserve a stable, peaceful and prosperous country.

The new United Nations Special Representative for Libya [Abdoulaye Bathily] took up his duties in Tripoli. We sincerely hope that this will create a new positive dynamic for all Libyan actors to work together. Now that the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission has been extended for one year, Mr Bathily can focus on establishing a strategy to resume a political framework for negotiations, which has been missing for too long. This will require our strong joint support to build a meaningful and coherent umbrella for the political process.

As European Union, along with the other international partners which are particularly active in Libya, we can make a difference by proactively supporting the mediation efforts – and we intend to do so. We must encourage the different Libyan actors from all sides to enhance dialogue and reach consensus. The call on foreign forces to withdraw from Libya must also be translated into practice. […]”