Libya – Q&A from the press briefing (17 Jul. 2020)

Q. What is your response to the comments made by U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker, who, on Thursday, criticized the EU naval mission tasked with ensuring compliance with the arms embargo on Libya, deeming, like Turkey, that it was biased and not serious?

A. The EU’s Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI is making a significant contribution to implementing the embargo on arms and illicit exports of petroleum imposed by the UN Security Council, in accordance with the conclusions of the Berlin Conference on Libya.

This operation has air, sea and satellite resources in order to monitor, in an impartial manner, all flows, regardless of their origin or beneficiaries. It has demonstrated this through its actions, reflecting the commitment of the EU and France to resolving a conflict that jeopardizes European security interests.

France is actively participating in this vital operation in a context of escalating foreign interference in the Libyan conflict, which we have condemned in the strongest terms.

We call on all our partners – starting with the United States – to step up their efforts, as the EU is doing, in order to thwart the recurring violations of the arms embargo and to help relaunch an inclusive political process in Libya under UN auspices.