High-level talks raise prospect of direct flights from Libya to Europe

Libya is moving a step closer to restoring key international links, following high-level talks between senior officials from Tripoli and London this week.

Abubaker Al-Taweel, Director of European Affairs at Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed Owen Jenkins, Director-General for the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa at the British Foreign Office, for discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation and improving services for Libyans at home and abroad.

A central focus was the reopening of the British consulate in Tripoli—an initiative that would allow Libyan citizens to apply for U.K. visas directly in the capital.

Officials also reviewed efforts to lift the European ban on Libyan civil aviation, which would restore the country’s ability to operate international flights and bolster economic and cultural exchange.

The meeting built on last month’s visit by Hamish Falconer, the U.K.’s Minister of State for the Middle East, where both governments reached new understandings to expand political, economic, and security cooperation.

If implemented, these measures could deliver tangible benefits for Libya—making travel easier, boosting business opportunities, and reinforcing the country’s role as a connected and engaged player in the region.