Libyans should decide the future form of their state and they should have a government backed by a broad national consensus. This is according to a European Parliament recommendation adopted on May 30.
“With this report, we did not confine ourselves to providing a realistic picture of the situation in Libya, but we wanted to set out the path that we should be following to try to get out of the current crisis,” said Parliament’s rapporteur Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT). “It is necessary to frame the process of reconstruction of Libya within a broader regional strategy to tackle many problems such as the disarmament of the militia, immigration and violations of human rights.”
Passed by 486 votes to 150, with 44 abstentions, MEPs called on the EU Council, Commission and External Action Service to intensify their diplomatic effort to support the UN Action Plan for Libya – currently the only viable framework for a solution to the crisis.
The MEPs also want elections in Libya by the end of 2018 and only once a new constitution is adopted. They also supported the ongoing process of a National Conference inside Libya aimed at achieving an agreement between the different Libyan parties on the next steps to complete the transition.
As for the protection of migrants and refugees in Libya, their conditions in detention centres should be improved and the Libyan authorities should close facilities that are not in line with international standards as soon as possible, MEPs recommended.
“The migration and refugee crisis remains a central concern for the S&D Group,” added Panzeri. “We strongly condemn the serious human rights violations against migrants in Libya, as a real crime against humanity, and urge the international community to intervene to close the detention centres.”
