Answer given by Ms Johansson on behalf of the European Commission

21.4.2022

The objective of the EU’s support to border management in Libya is to prevent the loss of life in the Mediterranean and at the same time to crack down on migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks.

The EU has devoted around EUR 700 million to Libya during 2014-20, including EUR 59 million to increase the operational capacity of the Libyan Coast Guard and the General Administration for Coastal Security.

Support included technical trainings on issues like navigations skills and human rights, which benefited 105 members of the General Administration for Coastal Security.

It is important that the EU continues to support Libya in implementing its search and rescue obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea[1], an in strengthening its overall border management capacity.

Therefore, building upon the previous assistance, the programming of future action under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument — Global Europe instrument aiming at training the Libyan Coast Guard and enhancing its capacity to perform border management and search and rescue operations is under way.

At the same time, the EU expects Libyan authorities to ensure respect for the human rights and dignity of migrants, to investigate incidents of violence and to ensure appropriate follow-up actions against those responsible.

• [1] https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf