Two gunmen in Bardo attack trained in Libya • ‘EU committed to help unity government’ – Muscat

EU heads of state and government committed to help Libya national unity government in policing and securitisation operations

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat briefing journalists at the European Council (Photo: Clifton Fenech)
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat briefing journalists at the European Council (Photo: Clifton Fenech)

As the Tunisian security services confirmed that two extremist gunmen in the Bardo museum attack had been trained in Libya before carrying out the deadly attack, the EU leaders today committed themselves to support a national unity government in Libya in terms of policing and securitisation operations.

The two-day summit came to an end on Friday afternoon, with the second part of the today’s meeting focusing on Libya.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the discussion was pushed by Malta and Italy. The outcome is an EU commitment to provide support, even on the plan of security, a future national unity government.

“So now it is not just Italy on its own ready to take steps in Libya but the European Union as a group of nations. The intervention will however not be a military one,” Muscat said.

The Maltese PM said the EU would help a Libyan national government protect critical zones such as airports, government buildings, oil refineries and frontiers.

Libya would also be helped to protect its frontiers.

The confirmation comes as a Tunisian security official told state media that the attackers who killed 21 people at a Tunis museum had slipped out of Tunisia in December and received weapons training in Libya before returning home.

“This latest attack is yet another realisation of the importance of securitising Libya’s borders,” Muscat said.

The PM said the EU would take the lead in helping a Libyan national unity government, together with the Arab League and the international community.

Muscat reiterated that there was no solution to Libya other than a political one while a non-military intervention would only be possible once a national government is formed and turns to Europe for help.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been tasked with planning all possible ways and options of how the EU could support a future national unity government.

Muscat warned that a political solution could however be “partial”. He said, that any “particular groups” who keep insisting against the formation of a unity government would be sidelined, while the other cooperating parties would form a government.

The Maltese PM also criticised EU border protection agency Frontex for “alarming” EU citizens about a possible crossing of “hundreds of thousands of migrants”.

“Citizens expect Frontex to act and not to issue alarming statements,” he said.