The Delegation of the European Union issues the following statement together with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States in Libya:

We express our sincere gratitude to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Abdoulaye Bathily, for the tireless efforts he made since his appointment in September 2022 to facilitate a Libyan-led, Libyan-owned political process. In addition to his extensive consultations with Libyan stakeholders and his active engagement with representatives of the diplomatic corps in Tripoli, his travels in the region and visits to European capitals have demonstrated his relentless commitment to overcome the country’s political impasse. We thank him for his achievements and dedication and recognise in his resignation the urgent need for the international community to agree on a concerted way forward under the guidance of the United Nations.

At a time of growing challenges to the unity, stability and prosperity of Libya and its people, we urge Libyan leaders to come together and rise to their historic responsibility by working together in a spirit of compromise aiming at a lasting political solution paving the way to unified Government leading to nationwide elections. We encourage institutional actors to commit to a constructive peace process enabling the renewal of their mandate. Libyan people deserve to be represented by legitimate bodies formed through a transparent and credible vote. The EU and its Member States will therefore continue to support UNSMIL’s mediation efforts in this particularly challenging phase.