Malta, Italy ask EU to ease Libya sanctions

Malta and Italy are urging the European Union to partially lift years-old sanctions against Libya in order to allow Tripoli to buy much-needed equipment to fight illegal migration.

The proposal, which will be discussed during the meeting of the EU's Permanent Representatives Committee, known as Coreper, comes as the flood of illegal immigrants into the two countries continues.

The joint proposal was made a few days ago and preliminary talks about it have already been held at the general affairs council last week.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg told The Times the proposal originated from Italy but, being of direct interest to it, Malta decided to fully endorse the suggestion.

Dr Borg said the proposal was discussed with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Pisanu during talks last week and the two countries agreed on how this should be presented to their EU counterparts.

Italy and Malta are proposing that the EU immediately partially lifts the sanctions on arms exports imposed on Libya a number of years ago. The sanctions, they will argue, is preventing Libya from buying the equipment needed to patrol its coast and so guard against illegal immigration.

Libya is considered as a major hub for illegal immigrants coming from African countries.

After talks with senior Maltese and Italian officials, Libya has signified its willingness to cooperate on this matter but argues it is unable to because of lack of equipment. Tripoli insists it is unable to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Europe from its territory unless the EU lifts the sanctions.

Libyan Interior Minister Nasser al-Mabruk said his country cannot carry out the necessary controls. In an interview with an Italian newspaper he pointed out that his country's borders were spread over 3,800 miles, including 1,250 miles of shoreline. Mr Al-Mabruk said surveillance would require helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, radar and other equipment that Tripoli is unable to acquire because of the embargo.

The embargo was imposed against Libya in the late 1980s because of its role in state-sponsored terrorism, including the 1986 Lockerbie bombing. The sanctions were partially eased last year, paving the way for Tripoli to compensate the airline tragedy victim's families.

Government sources told The Times that although the Italo-Maltese proposal was welcomed by the majority of EU member states, some countries were somewhat reluctant about the partial lifting of the sanctions on Libya.

"It seems some want a total embargo while others are still a bit sceptical," a top Maltese government official commented. He said that although it was still early and the issue could still take some time to resolve, Malta was confident that unanimous support would be reached among EU member states in a few days' time.

However, Mr Pisanu said Rome was ready to ignore the sanctions unilaterally if no agreement was reached within the EU. He said this could be done under specific rules that can be applied by a member state in cases of need and urgency. "The problem of African immigration affects all Europe," he insisted.

Reports from Libya say over one million illegal immigrants from all over Africa are on the Libyan coast waiting to sail across the Mediterranean and find a "better" life in a European country.

The government sources told The Times the issue will also be raised during a visit Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will be making to Libya next week. Dr Gonzi, who will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo, will hold talks with his Libyan counterpart and will also be received by Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi.