EU and Libya
The EU is determined to help Libya return to peace and resume its transition towards a stable, secure and prosperous country. Libya has not concluded an Association Agreement with the EU. The EU is committed to the “Berlin Process” under the auspices of the UN as the sole viable framework to relaunch the political process in Libya.
Bilateral cooperation
EU assistance to Libya is primarily funded through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-GE) for the period 2021 to 2027. From 2021 to 2024, bilateral assistance to the country amounted to €122 million.
Due to the unstable political situation in Libya, the EU planned its cooperation since 2017 through yearly ‘Special Measures’, rather than through a multiannual programming process, thus allowing optimal responses to the rapidly changing situation.
More on EU-Libya relations: Factograph - EU-Libya relations - European Commission
Support in the field of migration
The EU is making every effort to support the Libyan authorities in setting up a comprehensive and rights-based migration governance and management system. From 2021 to 2023, Libya benefitted from regional and bilateral actions in the area of migration worth around €130 million, with over half of funding dedicated to protection, humanitarian returns and evacuation. This comes on top of the €465 million allocated to Libya between 2015 and 2021 under the framework of the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.
Furthermore, the EU supports the Libyan Coast Guard through two civilian/military missions under the Common and Security Defence Policy (CSDP): the European Union Border Assistance Mission Libya (EUBAM Libya) and EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI.
