Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has issued a declaration on Libya in which she condemns the recent military escalation which risks undermining the UN-facilitated Ghadames process and tipping Libya into a full civil war. Reference is also made to the EU’s concern that the conflict may negatively impact other countries in the region.
The Ghadames process is a political dialogue facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), which started on 29 September 2014 and aims to resolve the ongoing crisis peacefully. The declaration warns that those who obstruct the process must “face consequences for their actions” and that the EU is “ready to consider further actions, including restrictive measures” as a demonstration of the EU’s commitment to the “unity and territorial integrity of Libya and the need to prevent the spread of terrorism“. The declaration calls on the UN Security Council to also take measures against such persons. This follows a similar call by UNSMIL, on 15 December 2014, in which it reminded those involved in the military conflict that they are in violation of Security Council resolution 2174 (2014), and that individuals and entities that threaten Libya’s peace, stability or security will face targeted sanctions.
