Technical Working Group EU-LBY in Rome
On 30th June, representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS), EUDEL Libya and EUNAVFOR MED IRINI held a technical meeting in Rome with a high-level delegation composed of senior military personnel and the Libyan authorities.
The technical working sessions included discussions on the EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI’s impartial and effective enforcement of the United Nations Security Council arms embargo on Libya, aimed at fostering regional peace and stability and on the current programs and initiatives undertaken by EUDEL. A key point of discussion was the recent EU Council Decision 488/2025, which extended IRINI’s mandate until March 2027.
The meeting was an opportunity to strengthen relationships and dialogue on a common agenda and on the objectives and needs of the Libyans, including the potential for further cooperation. The Operation Commander (OPCDR) Rear Admiral Valentino RINALDI, during the meeting, had the opportunity to present the State of Operations and highlighted the primary task of the Operation, which is to counter the illicit trafficking of weapons and implement the arms embargo in Libya. Admiral RINALDI also provided an in-depth overview of the efforts regarding secondary tasks: gathering information on oil smuggling, disrupting the business model of human trafficking, and developing capacity building and training for Libyan institutions responsible for law enforcement and search and rescue.
The current proposal activities of Capacity building and training of the Libyan institutions base on some main principles: focused on law enforcement and search and rescue (SAR) capabilities; complementarily with other EU projects to avoid duplication of efforts; feasible to implement; aligned with international standards and best practices; adherent with human rights, respecting with specific attention to vulnerable people and gender equality policies.
In this contest, and in collaboration with all organizations involved, such as EUDEL, EUBAM, EEAS and UNSMIL with the aim of supporting Libya in its stabilization process, Operation IRINI is ready to receive the requirements from Libyan Institutions and launch the CB&T plan in accordance with the EU Integrated Approach, and in cooperation with all the Libyan authorities.
The meeting demonstrated strong European unity to strengthen cooperation with Libyan institutions and commitment to uphold international law and regional security in an area of vital interests such as Libya. It also reinforced the importance of collaborative engagement between EU Operations and EU strategic policy Institutions, such as the EEAS and EUDEL Libya.
