MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Libya
16.9.2014 - (2014/2844(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Ignazio Corrao, Valentinas Mazuronis on behalf of the EFDD Group
B8‑0136/2014
European Parliament resolution on the situation in Libya
(2014/2844(RSP))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Libya, in particular that of 10 March 2011 on the Southern Neighbourhood, and Libya in particular[1], and that of 15 September 2011 on the situation in Libya[2],
– having regard to the appointment of 14 August 2014 of Bernardino León as new Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Libya,
– having regard to the EEAS joint statement by special envoys for Libya of 26 July 2014,
– having regard to the statements of 14 July and 25 August 2014 by the EEAS Spokesperson on the situation in Libya,
– having regard to United Nations Security Council resolutions on Libya, including that of 27 August 2014 (S/RES/2174 (2014)),
– having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 15 August 2014 on Libya,
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 30 August 2014,
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas since the overthrow of Muhammar Gaddafi in 2011 Europe has been incapable of establishing a sound strategy to assist Libya in achieving a democratic transition; whereas this lack of strategy and vision led to the current political and security crisis in Libya;
B. whereas on 16 May 2014 forces loyal to the former General Haftar launched an independent large scale air and ground offensive, code-named Operation Dignity, against Islamist armed groups in Benghazi;
C. whereas on 9 June 2014 Libya’s Supreme Court ruled that the appointment by the General National Congress of Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq was unconstitutional; whereas elections for a House of Representatives took place on 25 June 2014;
D. whereas the House of Representatives elected on 25 June 2014 has replaced the previous General National Congress as the legitimate body of Libyan’s representatives; whereas, owing to security concerns, the House of Representatives has moved to the small eastern town of Tobruk;
E. whereas, in response, a coalition of Islamist and Misrata militias launched operation Libya Dawn and on 23 August 2014, after a battle lasting nearly one month, they captured Tripoli International Airport from Zintan militias; whereas Libya’s new parliament, the House of Representatives, has said that the groups now in control of the airport are ‘terrorist organisations’;
F. whereas on 24 August 2014 unidentified war planes carried out attacks on targets in Libya’s capital Tripoli;
G. whereas on 25 August 2014 the General National Congress reconvened and elected Islamist-backed Omar al-Hasi as prime minister and requested that he form a government;
H. whereas a meeting of Libya’s neighbour countries was held in Cairo on 25 August 2014, at which Libya’s ambassador to Egypt requested foreign assistance and protection for its oilfields, airports and other state assets;
I. whereas the number of illegal border crossings in Libya has reached the unprecedented number of 140 000 so far in 2014; whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that 1 600 people have died since June in trying to reach Europe, with Italy receiving more than 80 000 migrants since the beginning of the year;
1. Strongly condemns the ongoing violence across the country, the killings, aggressions against civilians and the humanitarian impact thereof; reaffirms the importance of holding accountable those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law;
2. Is concerned by the deterioration of human rights in Libya, the escalation of violence and the effects of the fighting on the civilian population; believes that the current situation may undermine the stability not only of the country but of the whole region;
3. Reaffirms the importance of the Libyan Government’s cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC); welcomes the statement of 25 July 2014 by the ICC prosecutor warning that her office ‘will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes under the court’s jurisdiction in Libya irrespective of their official status or affiliation’;
4. Calls for an immediate ceasefire by all sides; strongly supports, to this end, the efforts of the newly appointed UN Special Envoy Bernardino León and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL);
5. Rejects external interferences in Libya, which exacerbate current divisions and undermine Libya’s democratic transition; is convinced that unilateral military actions do not represent a viable solution to the crisis and considers that any intervention should be peaceful in nature and fall under the remit of the United Nations;
6. Is deeply concerned by the lack of border control in Libya and the threat posed by arms trafficking and smuggling in the region, and by the unsecured arms and ammunitions in the country and the proliferation thereof; welcomes, in this context, UN Security Council resolution 2174 and its broadening of the existing international sanctions imposed on Libya to include people who engage in or support acts that ‘threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition’; considers these provisions to be a necessary step towards a successful political transition;
7. Acknowledges the concerted efforts of the neighbouring countries in helping Libya overcome the crisis, as well as their solidarity in dealing with displaced persons leaving Libya: welcomes, in this context, the role of Egypt in the organisation of the Cairo conference of 25 August 2014; calls on all of these parties to implement as soon as possible the provisions of UN Security Council resolution 2175 on searching for and disposing of weapons;
8. Calls on international and regional stakeholders to continue to engage constructively in supporting an immediate cessation of hostilities; urges the international community to remain fully engaged in supporting and assisting Libyan institutions and calls for the EU to develop a new comprehensive strategy to assist Libya during and after the transition, and to greatly increase its humanitarian aid effort in assisting the population; calls on the African Union and the Arab League to use their political influence to prevent third parties from financing any side of the conflict;
9. Calls on the interim government and the elected House of Representatives to carry out their tasks with moderation and in the interest of the country as a whole, to establish urgently a truly inclusive government and to fully play their role in creating the dynamics for an inclusive political settlement which embraces all political actors and the country’s minorities;
10. Calls for the EU to develop a new common strategy for the management of migration flows coming from Libya and North Africa; believes that burden sharing should be the base for such a strategy; calls on the EU to develop and implement legal means to provide access to the EU and calls for the EU to support, for example through the provision of an adequate level of funding and a possible enlarged mandate for FRONTEX activities, those southern Member States that must endure the heaviest burdens;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and the Libyan House of Representatives.