The European Union opens to Libya officially lifting the embargo

BRUSSELS – After days of proposals and rumors there is now official ratification: EU foreign ministers have lifted the embargo on arms and military supplies to Libya. British Foreign Minister Jack Straw announced this on the sidelines of the meeting of the heads of the 25 diplomats in Luxembourg.

It is a historic decision, given that it recomposes the friction between the Union and Libya created in the mid-1980s. Relations between the European states and the Arab country became difficult due to the accusations made by the United States to Gaddafi in support of international terrorism. The crisis between Libya and America culminated with the bombing of Tripoli in 1986, ordered by the then president of the United States Reagan.

The embargo by the Union was in force from the same year. In the following years, Italy has always played an important role in mediation, given the long-standing relations between the two countries, and even in recent times there have been meetings between Prime Minister Berlusconi and the Gaddafi leader. In particular, Italy has supported in Europe the importance of fostering collaboration with Libya for the fight against illegal immigration.

An agreement in Brussels to lift the embargo had already been set up among the ambassadors last September 22nd. On that date was precisely discussed the need to provide Libya with the technical tools to make a stronger contribution to the fight against illegal immigration. Following the lifting of the embargo, Libya will be able to acquire helicopters and airplanes to control the borders of the desert, patrol boats to patrol the coasts, radars and night sighting vehicles.

11 October 2004