The EU must start considering Libya as a priority: Dalli

MEP Miriam Dalli welcomes support for Malta's proposal towards conflict resolution in Libya

MEP Miriam Dalli speaks about the positive reaction towards Malta's suggestion to have peace talks with Libya
MEP Miriam Dalli speaks about the positive reaction towards Malta's suggestion to have peace talks with Libya

 Member of the European Parliament, Miriam Dalli said today “It is encouraging to see other countries agreeing with Malta's suggestion to establish a peacekeeping initiative, headed by the United Nations, in order to bring about stability in Libya.”

Dalli said that she welcomed the fact that Italy had agreed to lead such a peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the United Nations.

The MEP was addressing the European Parliament during its plenary session in Strasbourg on a motion for resolution on the situation in Libya.  

The urgency of the situation in Libya was emphasised during the discussion with the European Commission's vice presidents and Commission's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. The discussion showed that Libya is beyond being a failed state and whatever happens in Libya will have an impact on the EU.

Dalli appealed to the European Union to be coherent with its talk on the situation in Libya and to focus its attention on the country. She argued that Europe should not have the luxury of allowing terrorism, fanaticism and extremist ideologies grow within our neighbouring country.  

Dalli said: “The European Union must start considering Libya as a priority because while it is encouraging that the EU focuses its attention on countries on the Eastern borders, it has done so at the expense of its southern borders." 

Dalli emphasised that while it is true that the Libyan people themselves can bring about lasting solutions to the instability, the EU has the responsibility to seriously survey the situation.

 “The EU cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the situation on the ground in Libya where innocent citizens are the ones suffering most, being kidnapped or even dying while terrorist groups such as ISIS continue to strengthen,” said Dalli.

According to Dalli during the same debate, Federica Mogherini, EU's High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, encouraged those who have not as yet joined in the peace talks in Geneva to do so, as there may not be another chance to solve the crisis in Libya.