[WATCH] EU remains against military intervention in Libya, but 'less clear' on what it can do now

European Council president Donald Tusk says EU must come up with ‘creative solutions’, says the Union ‘can’t open its doors to everyone’

Joseph Muscat greets European Council President Donald Tusk
Joseph Muscat greets European Council President Donald Tusk

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While on a very short visit to Malta, the president of the European Council Donald Tusk reiterated that the formation of a government of national unity remained the only solution for neighbouring Libya.

While talks led by the UN envoy Bernardino Leon are still underway in a bid to bring the warring factions together, the EU leaders have agreed to provide Libya with the necessary support once such a government is formed.

Meanwhile, the EU will continue to give its support to the United Nations in its plan to end the 10-month conflict in Libya.

“My interlocutors in Washington and European capitals have all excluded military intervention,” Tusk said, adding that the EU must generate a united response to the instability in the Mediterranean.

Urging Libya to come together in a unity government, he said that the European Union must stand ready to help the Libyans in their transition.

Tusk insisted that only a united Europe can help fight the root causes and handle the consequences of terrorism and migration, adding that the EU leaders have committed to help end the human tragedy.
"What is less clear is how we can help," Tusk said of the ongoing crisis in Libya. "We have to come up with creative solutions. I am here to listen and to learn on what the EU can do for the southern neighborhood."

Tusk stressed that a solution had to be permanent.
He said the EU had to help migrants in their dangerous crossings, but the security of member states was more important. "We cannot open our doors to everyone and therefore we have to avoid their departure in the first place," Tusk said.

This is the first time Tusk is visiting Malta since his appointment as President of the European Council. He landed in Malta shortly before noon and was escorted directly to Auberge de Castille.

Present for a one hour meeting with Muscat were deputy prime minister Louis Grech, foreign affairs minister George Vella and the prime minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri.

Addressing the media, Muscat described Tusk’s visit as “a commitment by the European Council to address the situation in the Mediterranean”.

He said that the EU had to treat the conflicts in its east and south regions equally: “This is not a competition between which conflict is the worst.”

Muscat said Malta remained hopeful that Libya forms a government of national unity, which would by followed by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council and a request by Libya for Europe to intervene.

“Any calls for some sort of unilateral military action will not do any good,” Muscat insisted.

Italy has meanwhile launched operation Mare Sicuro – Safe Seas - ending a naval fleet to monitor the Libyan coast and protect Italian shipping and oil rigs from jihadi attacks. According to Italian media, the mission will likely involve a landing helicopter dock vessel, two FREMM-class frigates, a patrol vessel and Predator UAVs. A contingent of marines will join the mission, and use high-speed craft to intercept and board suspicious shipping.

Asked whether the EU would be ready to support Italy in its mission, Tusk was non-committal explaining that it was the initiative of Italy.

Adding that he was “ready to discuss this initiative with [Italian Premier] Matteo Renzi, Tusk said he was more focused on the proposals which the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini was set to put forward to help a unity government in Libya.

Muscat added that it would be “premature to call it an intervention”. He said the mission, operated in a “strategic manner”, should be viewed in the context of ceased operation Mare Nostrum and the failure of Frontex joint operation Triton in replacing the Italian mission.

“Italians do not want to be caught unaware … I don’t want to be alarmist on the number of migrants crossing but all intelligence information points towards increased flows pushed by the instability in Libya,” Muscat said.

Tusk added that Italy was “not interested” in a military intervention in Libya.