The two sides lauded “the positive results of the interagency cooperation and interaction within the framework of the sub-working groups” on land and maritime borders as well as organized crimes, it said…reports Asian Lite News
The Libyan Foreign Ministry and the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM) on Tuesday discussed the second half of the mission’s 7th mandate on bolstering Libya’s capabilities in protecting its borders.
At the meeting, both sides “engaged in a constructive dialogue” based on a comprehensive review of the mission’s undertakings and agreed on commonly defined priorities, the EUBAM said in a statement.
The two sides lauded “the positive results of the interagency cooperation and interaction within the framework of the sub-working groups” on land and maritime borders as well as organized crimes, it said.
In May 2013, the EU Council gave the green light for the EUBAM to support the Libyan authorities in bolstering the security of Libya’s borders.
The EUBAM’s core mandate is to contribute to enhancing the capacity of the Libyan authorities and agencies to manage Libya’s borders, fight cross-border crime including human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and combat terrorism. On June 26, 2023, the EU Council extended the mandate until June 30, 2025.
In May, The European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) marked a significant milestone today with the inaugural meeting of the Sub-Working Group on Land Border. This table brings together representatives from the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and the Customs Authority, alongside EUBAM Libya’s Operations Department. This subgroup was established based on conclusions of Join Committee between Libya and EUBAM.
This meeting focused on advancing specific projects aimed at strengthening border management, with a particular focus on the Libya-Tunisia land border. EUBAM Libya collaborates with Libyan authorities to provide essential supplies, including infrastructure, IT equipment, and specialized equipment for more effective border surveillance. These efforts will be complemented by series of specialized training programs for Libyan law enforcement agencies. Capacity-building initiatives will cover crucial areas as smuggling detection, search techniques, heritage preservation, and international humanitarian law. These initiatives will follow the ones planned to be delivered this month on border security and risk management.
Building on the positive engagement and fruitful discussions with Libyan counterparts, EUBAM will continue work in other two Sub-Working Groups on Maritime Security and on Countering Organized Crime and Terrorism.
