Germany, Italy, France threaten sanctions on foreign interference in Libya

BY Libyan Express Jul 19, 2020

GNA forces seize control of Tarhouna. [Photo: Social Media]

The leaders of France, Italy and Germany urged “all foreign actors” to stop interfering in Libya and to respect the UN arms embargo on the country. The trio hinted at sanctions as a way to enforce their position.

Libya faces a “heightened risk of regional escalation,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in a joint statement on Saturday.

The three EU leaders called for an immediate halt to fighting in the North African nation, where a UN-backed government struggles for power against a rival administration backed by influential warlord Khalifa Haftar.

Merkel, Macron, and Conte called on “all Libyan parties and their foreign supporters” to end the clashes and stop the military build-up.

They also urged the unspecified foreign governments to “end their increasing interference and to fully respect the arms embargo established by the United Nations Security Council.

“We are ready to consider the possible use of sanctions should breaches to the embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue,” the leaders said in the statement, adding they were looking forward to top EU officials coming up with the “proposals” for the restrictions.

The statement, published as the leaders meet in Brussels for EU budget and recovery fund talks, marks a change in tone from Paris, Berlin and Rome.

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