Foreign Minister George Vella has urged the EU to improve its engagement and support the launch of a single national dialogue in Libya.

The tenuous security situation in Libya necessitates the need for increasing EU engagement with Libya, he told EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The situation in Libya was the focal point of discussions on the Southern Neighbourhood.

Dr Vella said that the EU should support the launch of a single national dialogue process as a means of bringing together and empowering all elements of Libyan society.

He reiterated Malta’s commitment to the country’s territorial integrity and support for the Libyan government’s efforts at stabilising the country.

"The EU needs to ensure that its relations with Libya are given a strong focus on capacity-building in order to help the country move forward in its democratic transition”.

Strong legal and democratic structures were needed to address the aspirations of Libyan citizens, he said.  Such institutions needed to be seen as the only credible means by which the Libyan population could channel their dissatisfaction, initiate change and ultimately choose its government.

MIGRATION

On migration, Dr Vella said stability in Libya was crucial.

He reiterated the Prime Minister’s call at the European Council summit in October for “concrete and effective” action on an EU level to deal with irregular migration.

The minister said the issue could only be successfully tackled – and lives saved – if it was addressed at a comprehensive level with political commitment from all Member States .

He emphasised the need for the EU to continue to support the strengthening of its land and sea borders, as well as the setting up of “migrant monitoring stations” on Libyan borders.

Furthermore, intra-EU relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from Member States, such as Malta, needed to be addressed through concrete solidarity.  d by Ambassador Marlene Bonnici, Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU.