EU Announces its Readiness to Support the Security Sector in Libya

• EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell and his Libyan counterpart Najla el-Mangoush

In Tripoli, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, affirmed the European Union's readiness to support the Libyan authorities in implementing the electoral process and security sector reform.

Borrell said during a press conference with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla el-Mangoush today, Wednesday, that Libya made a lot of progress last year with a ceasefire by choosing unified institutions and a roadmap for elections on December 24, and that it is time to implement and consolidate this progress.

He added the European Union stands with the Libyan authorities in supporting the security sector, and we will also discuss how we can support efforts to hold elections in the coming months. We have already provided technical support to the High National Elections Commission in Libya, and we are ready to do more.

He continued to say that there is no time to waste to pass the necessary legislation, calling on the House of Representatives to do its job and start concrete operations.

For her part, the Libyan Foreign Minister confirmed the agreement with Borrell to support Libya's stability, elections, and management of the country's southern borders.

El-Mangoush also referred to Libya’s keenness to cooperate in security and economic issues with the European Union, given the historical and geographical ties with the countries of the Union.

Yesterday, Tuesday, the President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Muhammad Al-Manfi, announced the launch of the national reconciliation project in the country, according to a statement issued by the media office of the Presidential Council.

Al-Manfi asserted that the decision for national reconciliation was taken because of the real desire of the Libyan people to turn the painful pages of the past and overcome differences.

A two-day conference was held in the Algerian capital, named Libya's Neighboring Countries. In its final statement, the conference stressed the need to withdraw foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territory and the need to involve the neighboring countries of Libya in any tracks on this issue.

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) had failed during the past weeks due to sharp divisions and disagreements in approving the constitutional rule that will regulate the electoral process at the end of the year.

Libya has been in instability for a decade before the Libyan parties were successful in unifying the political power and formed an interim unified government to prepare for the elections at the end of this year. This is characterized by conflicting factions in the East and West in recent years.

The corporation announced that the Chairman and Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation decided to merge and appoint the former parallel National Oil Corporation's affiliates in the National Oil Corporation and its subsidiaries, following the sector's need for functional specializations.

The National Oil Company of Libya announced earlier the end of the split between the two institutions in the oil sector caused by the country's political division.

The statement described this decision as a realization of one of the most important goals of the Interim National Unity Government which is aimed at unifying institutions and integrating their members within the legitimate institutions in the state.

The split and conflicts in Libya have disintegrated many of the country's oil fields, leading to a decrease in oil sales. In the light of the political consensus within the auspices of the United Nations to hold elections at the end of the year and a cease-fire across the country, the formation in the country of the national unity government has given people hope to see a usual return on the work of Libya's oil institutions.