The European Union has hosted the second Libya Quartet meeting as a follow-up to the first meeting that took place in Cairo this year in March. The EU used the second meeting as an opportunity to discuss developments in Libya and coordinate the work to support the political process in the country with the ultimate goal of a democratic transition.
Leaders have once again committed to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya and its institutions under the Libyan Political Agreement. All sides emphasized the urgent need for a Libyan-led peaceful resolution of the political crisis and underscored the rejection of the threat or use of armed forces by any Libyan party. The EU also condemned the unprovoked attack on Brak al-Shati last week as well as all acts of violence that are so prevalent throughout the country. Brussels called on all parties to stop further violence and any act that could undermine ongoing work towards a negotiated solution to the conflict.
The Quarter also focused on bringing the attention to the importance of keeping stability and security along Libya’s borders in order to prevent violence from spilling over to other countries, most notably Tunisia. Among other concerns the EU is mostly worried about the economic situation in the country. Brussels hopes that the Libyan authorities will be able to tackle the serious fiscal and monetary issues facing the country.
On the political front, the EU also seeks to prioritize the Constitutional Drafting Assembly to finalize a draft constitution to pave the way to general and presidential elections. EU leaders also encouraged all Libyan parties to engage in constructive and inclusive talks with an emphasis on the word “inclusive”. From the EU’s point of view, inclusiveness is at the core of the political process in the North African country. The Libya Quartet consists of the EU, the United Nations, the African Union and the League of Arab States.
