Vella calls on EU to support launch of Libya single national dialgoue

The tenuous security situation in Libya necessitates the need for increasing EU engagement with Libya, Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella told EU ministers.

The situation in Libya was the focal point of discussions on the Southern Neighbourhood during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. Vella said the EU should support the launch of a single national dialogue process as a means of bringing together and empowering all elements of Libyan society.

At the same time, the Minister reiterated Malta's commitment to the country's territorial integrity and support for the Libyan Government's efforts at stabilising the country.

"The EU needs to ensure that its relations with Libya are given a strong focus on capacity-building in order to help the country move forward in its democratic transition," Vella said.

Vella said it was important the Libya developed strong, legal and democratic structures to address the aspirations of Libyan citizens.

"Such institutions need to be seen as the only credible means by which the Libyan population can channel its dissatisfaction, initiate change and ultimately choose its government."

He said that the loss of life of migrants in the Mediterranean can only be averted through multi-faceted action.

The agenda item on the Southern Neighbourhood also included a discussion on migration in the Mediterranean.  Minister Vella reiterated the Prime Minister's call at the European Council summit in October for "concrete and effective" action on an EU level to deal with irregular migration.

He drove home the point that the issue can only be successfully tackled - and lives saved - if it is addressed at a comprehensive level with political commitment from all Member States to end the ongoing terrible loss of life in the Mediterranean.

Such measures, he said, need to include preventative engagement with countries of transit in order to prevent people from embarking on these dangerous journeys.

He referred to the discussion on Libya, emphasising the need for the EU to continue to support the strengthening of its land and sea borders, as well as the setting up of "migrant monitoring stations" on Libyan borders.

The Minister stated that intra-EU relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from Member States, such as Malta, which bears disproportional responsibility for irregular migration to Europe, must be addressed through concrete solidarity.

He said that any comprehensive approach must also target traffickers, more efficient EU measures to return migrants that do not qualify for international protection and engagement with countries of origin.

The discussion on the Southern Neighbourhood also took stock of developments with regard to the civil war in Syria.

On the Eastern Partnership, Vella said Malta was hopeful that the upcoming Summit with the EU's partners in Eastern Europe, which is expected to take place later this month in Vilnius, will send out a positive message of support and act as a "foundation stone for a revitalised partnership going forward".