Importance of further intensification of EU efforts vis-à-vis Libya affirmed

“The European Union must further intensify its efforts in respect of Libya, including through more focused Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) actions and the following-up of objectives and work strands that were agreed at the 2015 Valletta Summit on Migration and the Informal EU Summit held in Malta last month,” Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said yesterday.

He was addressing an informal meeting of EU Ministers of Defence in Brussels, which was convened by EU foreign and security policy chief Federica Mogherini to discuss the strategic outlook of CSDP engagement in the EU’s neighbourhood and beyond.

Mr Abela said Malta will continue to provide support in this regard wherever possible.

The island is committed to enhancing opportunities for dialogue; it has hosted the recent graduation ceremony of the first group of Libyan coastguard trainees, and is furthermore currently preparing to receive and train a number of others.

In Brussels, Minister Abela also took part in a joint Council session between the bloc’s Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers, aimed at discussing progress in the implementation of the security and defence aspects of the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy.

The Ministers adopted conclusions assessing the progress achieved since the European Council of the 15th December 2016, which will form the basis of a report for the European Council on 9th and 10th March 2017.

“Based on its experience in a region fraught with instability, Malta considers the internal-external security nexus of great importance,” the Minister said.

“It is necessary to ensure that the EU is in a position to respond to challenges in a rapid and effective manner,” he said.