EU and UN in talks to improve security in Libya

The European Union is in talks with the United Nations, hoping to bolster security in Libya in the event that U.N. - backed peace talks succeed, the EU's foreign policy head announced today.

Talks between Libya's warring factions were held on Thursday, in an effort to bring an end to the conflict between the country’s two rival governments and which threatens to plunge the country into full-blown civil war.

The EU has a naval presence patrolling the Mediterranean tasked with assisting in the rescue of migrants fleeing the conflict –ridden African continent. But European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said this presence could do more.

"We discussed different options for an EU presence, different ways in which the EU can support the operation also through security measures. This could mean also some naval presence," Mogherini told a news conference after talks were held between EU foreign ministers in Latvia.

The EU is known to have been discussing the possibility of NATO carrying out inspections of vessels in the Mediterranean to reinforce an arms embargo.

In addition to reinforcing its Mediterranean naval rescue operation, EU was looking at options for strengthening security on its southernmost border.

"There are operations for preventing terrorist threats and the Italian navy is doing its work and a lot depends from the success of the negotiations in Libya," said Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

Mogherini had said that an EU team could be tasked with monitoring a potential Libyan ceasefire and could also protect basic infrastructure.

The EU's discussions follow pressure from southern EU states, led by France and Italy who are calling on the EU to take action to prevent Islamist militants from strengthening their position in Libya, as well as to stem the flow of migrants reaching Europe from Libya.