Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

30.3.2021

The EU has devoted around EUR  700 million in support to Libya during 2014-2020 under various funding instruments, including the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the European Neighbourhood Instrument, humanitarian assistance and the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace.

Since its creation in November 2015, the EUTF has mobilised EUR  456 million for projects in Libya, over half of which devoted to the protection of migrants and refugees, and one-third to community stabilisation.

Remaining funds are invested in actions to improve border management (EUR  57.2 million), with the aim to support Libyan authorities in saving lives at sea and fighting migrant smuggling. The main beneficiaries of these actions are the Libyan General Administration for Coastal Security (Libyan Ministry of Interior), whose area of operations is limited to the coastline and Libya’s territorial waters, and the Libyan Coast Guard (Libyan Ministry of Defence).

The Libyan authorities have a very basic Libyan Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), by means of which they carry out their activities in the field of search and rescue.

The development of the MRCC will be supported through the EUTF funded project ‘Support to the Integrated Border and Migration Management in Libya’ under Phase I and Phase II, by supplying equipment, a mobile unit and accompanying capacity development.

The Commission is not able to provide information on the location of the MRCC of the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.