Diplomatic turbulence in Benghazi won’t derail EU–Libya ties

The European Union has sought to move past last week’s diplomatic dispute in Benghazi, where a senior EU delegation was expelled shortly after arrival, reiterating its continued commitment to working with all relevant Libyan authorities on shared challenges — particularly irregular migration.

The delegation — which included EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and interior ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta — was turned back upon landing at Benina Airport on Tuesday, 8 July. It had intended to hold meetings with officials in eastern Libya to discuss the recent surge in migrant crossings to Europe.

Before travelling to Benghazi, the delegation met with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba and other members of the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli. Commissioner Brunner described those discussions as “productive,” noting on social media that the visit reaffirmed a joint commitment to combat migrant smuggling and laid the foundations for broader cooperation.

However, authorities in Benghazi — aligned with Prime Minister Osama Hammad — declared Brunner persona non grata and ordered the entire delegation to leave the country. The scheduled meetings were cancelled.

EU: Incident was a “protocol issue”

European Commission officials have described the Benghazi episode as a “protocol issue,” while avoiding further comment on the details. A spokesperson told The Brussels Times that the EU would continue its engagement across Libya and keep communication channels open with all key stakeholders.

“We are not here to assign blame or retell events,” the spokesperson added. “What matters is that cooperation continues where it’s needed most — on migration, stability, and regional security.”

One Libya policy remains unchanged

Despite the tensions, the European Union reaffirmed its long-standing “One Libya” policy, under which it maintains engagement with authorities throughout the country while recognising the GNU in Tripoli as the result of the UN-led political process.

A spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said the EU’s position has not changed, confirming that the bloc works with a wide range of actors to address shared priorities.

Media reports suggest that the breakdown in the Benghazi visit may have stemmed from concerns raised by EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando, who was reportedly reluctant to engage directly with senior officials from Hammad’s government.

Irregular migration on the rise

The expulsion comes amid growing EU concerns over the increasing number of irregular migrants departing from Libya. According to recent data, more than 7,300 migrants have arrived in 2025 on the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos — up from around 5,000 in 2024. Both islands lack sufficient reception facilities, prompting the issue to be raised at the recent European Council summit.

In response, the Greek government announced a temporary three-month suspension of asylum procedures for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, particularly Libya. The European Commission has said it will review the measure once national legislation has been finalised and enters into force.

This echoes a similar move in 2020, when Greece suspended asylum claims following a border crisis with Turkey — a measure that drew criticism from rights groups and legal scholars.

Questions over EU funding and rights safeguards

The Benghazi incident has reignited debate over the EU’s migration cooperation with Libya and its oversight mechanisms. A 2023 report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) criticised the EU’s €5 billion Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) for insufficient focus on root causes of migration and inadequate monitoring of human rights conditions in recipient countries, including Libya.

The same year, a joint investigation by Lighthouse Reports revealed that Frontex, the EU’s border agency, had shared the coordinates of migrant boats in distress with a vessel reportedly operated by an armed group in eastern Libya — raising serious ethical and legal concerns.

Despite these challenges, EU officials have reiterated their intention to maintain engagement with all sides in Libya, stressing the need for a comprehensive, coordinated approach to migration governance and regional security.