EU relations with Libya

EU sanctions against Libya were lifted in 2004, when the European Council identified two priority areas for engagement, both of which constituted domestic political crises in Libya with implications for the EU: the "Benghazi AIDS crisis" and illegal immigration.

Currently, relations between the European Community and Libya are taking place outside a bilateral legal framework governing bilateral relations. In addition, Libya does not intend to become part of the Union for the Mediterranean or of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Given the new political context between the parties and their strong common interests, negotiations on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and its Member States and Libya have started in November 2008.

• Libyan Economy Overview
• Libya Investment Climate 2009
• EU Delegation to Tunisia (accredited to Libya)

LATEST NEWS

Libyan airlines banned from flying to EU — 04 April 2012, 11:46 CET

All Libyan airlines and Venezuelan carrier Conviasa were banned from flying into the European Union on Tuesday due to safety concerns.

Libyan airlines banned from flying to EU — 03 April 2012, 13:37 CET

All Libyan airlines and Venezuelan carrier Conviasa were banned from flying into the 27-nation European Union on Tuesday due to safety concerns.

Libyan official says illegal immigration resumes — 19 January 2012, 17:06 CET

Libya's interior ministry said on Thursday illegal immigrants have started entering the country again in their thousands, appealing to the European Union to help curb the flow of people.

Austria lifts freeze on Libyan central bank funds — 24 December 2011, 00:12 CET

Austria has unfrozen the Libyan central bank's funds here, following UN and EU decisions to lift sanctions against key Libyan institutions, the foreign ministry said Friday.

EU releases Libyan central bank's frozen funds — 21 December 2011, 12:09 CET

The European Union lifted sanctions on Libya's central bank and a key investment bank on Wednesday in line with a UN decision to help the post-war economy after Moamer Kadhafi's downfall.

EU lifts sanctions against 28 Libyan firms — 01 September 2011, 19:02 CET

The European Union on Thursday lifted an assets freeze against oil firms, ports, banks and an airline in Libya to provide funds to the country's rebel leadership and kickstart its economy.

EU lifts sanctions against 28 Libyan firms — 01 September 2011, 16:08 CET

The European Union on Thursday lifted an assets freeze against 28 Libyan firms, including ports and banks, to provide funds to the rebel leadership and kick-start the economy.

EU aid chief warns Libyan rebels against abuses — 01 September 2011, 11:42 CET

EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva warned Libya's rebel forces on Thursday against committing human rights abuses following alerts by rights groups.

EU opens humanitarian aid bureau in Tripoli — 29 August 2011, 21:55 CET

The European Union said Monday it had opened a humanitarian aid office in Tripoli to speed up delivery of essential food, medicine and water supplies in the shattered Libyan capital.

All sides in Libya must avoid reprisals: Ashton — 27 August 2011, 10:48 CET

The United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and the European Union urge all sides in Libya to avoid reprisals, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said late Friday after talks of the so-called Cairo Group.

Libya funds must not reach Kadhafi loyalists: EU — 26 August 2011, 18:44 CET

The EU urged caution Friday in the release of Libyan funds frozen by the international community, saying authorities must ensure the money does not end up in the hands of Moamer Kadhafi loyalists.

China's Hu 'confident' in the euro: Sarkozy — 25 August 2011, 20:48 CET

China's president has expressed confidence in the euro, visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday, as concerns intensify over the future of the 17-nation eurozone.

Europe and NATO weakened despite Libya victory — 25 August 2011, 08:53 CET

France and Britain proved their military ability in the absence of US leadership in Libya but the European Union and NATO emerged paradoxically weakened, analysts said.

UN to hold Libya summit this week — 22 August 2011, 18:03 CET

UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Monday that the heads of the African Union, European Union, Arab League and other regional groups would attend a summit on Libya this week in New York.

Poland asks Libya rebels to avoid 'unnecessary aggression' — 21 August 2011, 22:08 CET

Poland called on Libyan rebels to refrain from "retaliation and unnecessary aggression" as insurgent forces closed in on Tripoli, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

US, EU up pressure on Libya as new fighting hits Brega — 10 August 2011, 22:57 CET

The United States and European Union turned up the heat on Libya, as fresh fighting erupted Wednesday along rebel lines at the oil town of Brega and state television showed footage of a son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, days after rebels reported him dead.

EU slaps more sanctions on Kadhafi's Libya: France — 09 August 2011, 17:34 CET

The European Union has slapped further sanctions on the regime of Moamer Kadhafi, targeting two "economic entities" linked to the Libyan strongman, France said Tuesday.

EU urges wider assistance for refugees from Libya — 06 August 2011, 14:24 CET

The EU executive, deploring the deaths at sea of refugees fleeing Libya, on Friday demanded all vessels provide assistance to those in distress and urged EU nations to help resettle migrants.

US, EU warn against Libyan arms flow to Al-Qaeda — 30 June 2011, 17:58 CET

Smugglers may be selling sophisticated Libyan army weapons to Al-Qaeda's offshoot in north Africa's Sahel region, Spain warned Thursday after a US-European security meeting in Madrid.

No Libya solution with Kadhafi still in power: EU — 27 June 2011, 14:48 CET

The European Union opposes any solution to the war in Libya that involves Moamer Kadhafi remaining in power, the spokesman for the EU's foreign policy chief said Monday.

World groups say political process needed in Libya — 18 June 2011, 23:27 CET

A meeting in Egypt of UN, EU, Arab League, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and African Union officials on Saturday stressed the need for a "political process" to resolve the conflict in Libya.

EU lifts asset freeze on Austrian Kadhafi associate — 17 June 2011, 13:40 CET

The European Union announced Tuesday it was lifting the assets freeze on Libyan businessman Mustafa Zarti, believed to be a close associate of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.

EU freezes business assets of six Libyan ports — 08 June 2011, 13:35 CET

The EU named on Wednesday six Libyan ports now added to a list of businesses hit by an asset freeze, covering facilities in Tripoli, Al Khoms, Brega, Ras Lanuf, Zawia and Zuwara.

EU slaps sanctions on six Libyan port authorities — 07 June 2011, 19:45 CET

The EU decided Tuesday to add six Moamer Kadhafi-controlled Libyan ports to a list of entities hit with an asset freeze, including the facilities in Tripoli and the eastern city of Brega.

Italy minister accuses Malta after migrant rescue — 29 May 2011, 23:08 CET

Italian coast guards rescued 210 refugees escaping conflict in Libya as the interior minister complained of inaction by neighbouring Malta.