Libya

Political relations

France is working with the international community on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011) to support the Libyan revolution and political transition.

French ties with Libya were never severed. After the closure of the French Embassy in Tripoli in February 2011, French diplomat Antoine Sivan was sent as Special Representative of France to the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) in Benghazi. The French Embassy reopened in Tripoli in August 2011. The Libyan Prime Minister visited Paris on 12 and 13 February 2013, along with a delegation of eight ministers and deputy ministers. The French Foreign Minister visited Tripoli on 23 April 2013 following the attack on the French Embassy, to express his support for our team and reiterate France’s commitment to Libya. On 30 July 2014, France moved its diplomatic mission to Tunis.

France remains committed to resolving the political crisis in Libya by supporting the UN mediation conducted by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UNSRSG). It is on this basis that France instigated the International Conference on Libya, which took place on 29 May and where the following commitments and deadlines were established: adopting a constitutional basis by 16 September and holding parliamentary and presidential elections on 10 December. France supports the Presidential Council resulting from the Skhirat Agreement regarding its efforts to meet the people’s expectations. The political process must help to extend the effective control of the legitimate authorities across Libyan territory. National consensus is being sought to this end so that the Libyan State can meet the challenges of terrorism and migration which it is currently facing. France and the European Union are helping to channel the political process at the request of the Government of National Accord. As a result, on 1 April 2016, restrictive measures were adopted against three people who were obstructing political dialogue, and have since been renewed.

Economic relations

The development of bilateral relations and the increasing openness of Libya after the Revolution has boosted economic and commercial exchanges. France was Libya’s second-largest customer in 2014, up three spots from the 2013 ranking. Our trade relations are characterized by a structural and fluctuating trade deficit, while 99% of our imports consist of oil and gas.

There are many opportunities for French businesses, in all sectors: oil and gas, transport, health, finance, telecommunications, water and sanitation, energy, housing, urban planning and development, industry and agrifood. French companies maintained their activities in Libya and were particularly active in the sectors of health, electricity, water/sanitation, agrifood and transport/infrastructure/civil aviation.

Yet Libya remains a difficult terrain. Poor decision-making and administrative capacities in Libya, and prevailing security conditions, do not facilitate access to the Libyan market. The deterioration in the political and security situation since the summer of 2014 has made our trade a great deal more complicated. Preserving the unity of Libyan economic and financial institutions (Central Bank, National Oil Corporation), which are torn between the two camps, is also crucial to this trade.