Libya cannot turn into Syria Act II

The EPP Group today expressed concern about the growing humanitarian crisis and political polarisation of the conflict in Libya, which risks reaching the point of no return in the dialogue between the parties in conflict.

"Libya must not become a repetition of the Syrian case. The efforts of all parties in the direction of the Ghadames Dialogue should lead to a ceasefire and the establishment of a roadmap for the resumption of democratic transition, taking into account the lessons learned and the extreme polarisation that we see today", said Mariya Gabriel MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group responsible for relations with Mediterranean countries, during a debate on Libya in the European Parliament.

Reports show that ISIS is training fighters in Libya and establishing a branch in the eastern part of the country, and reveal information on the proliferation of weapons, ammunition, explosives and smuggling of arms, all of which pose a risk to the stability of the entire region.

The EPP Group has tabled a Resolution to wind up the debate, due to be voted on Thursday in plenary, urging all parties to cease violence, refrain from actions creating further divisions and polarisation, and to publicly declare that they will not tolerate such actions and that they will seek solutions through political dialogue.

Mariya Gabriel demanded that the EU’s High Representative revises the strategy in the Sahel region for 2015. "Has there not been a restrictive approach geographically and thematically? Did we succeed in establishing the link between security and development in operational terms? We must find a way to stop the proliferation of weapons and other traffic that has increased and continue to destabilise the Sahel Saharan Africa", she said.

The EPP Group Resolution calls on EU Member States, together with international partners, to assist Libya in the creation of effective and nationally-commanded and controlled security forces that can ensure peace and order in the country, as well as supporting the initialling of a ceasefire and designing a mechanism to monitor it. The EPP Group asks the European Institutions to coordinate Member States’ action in Libya and focus their support on state-building and institution-building. The EU should also give priority to assisting with the reform of the Libyan justice system, as well as other fields crucial for democratic governance.