EU extends border assistance mission in Libya

The EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday prolonged the Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM) until December 2018.

The council in a statement Monday also announced the introduction of a ban on the exports of inflatable boats and outboard motors to the country in order to disrupt the activities of human traffickers.

“The Council also agreed to extend the CSDP mission EUBAM Libya until Dec. 31, 2018.

“EUBAM Libya currently assists and engages with the Libyan authorities on border management, law enforcement and criminal justice with a particular emphasis on the South of Libya.

“The mission will also work on planning for a possible civilian capacity-building and crisis assistance mission,” the council was quoted as saying,

The council also stressed the importance of the U“NAVFOR MED Operation Sophia”, the EU’s naval operation aimed at disrupting the activities of smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean Sea.

“In an effort to further disrupt the business model of people smugglers and human traffickers, the Council

introduced restrictions on the export and supply to Libya of inflatable boats (dinghies) and outboard motors.

“EU member states will now have a legal basis to prevent the export or supply of these goods to Libya where there are reasonable grounds to believe that they will be used by people smugglers and human traffickers,” the

statement read.

Council also said the restrictions would also be applied to dinghies and motors, which are transiting

through the EU member states to Libya.

Libya has been suffering from turmoil resulting in the humanitarian and refugee crisis since 2011.

EUBAM Libya, a civilian Mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy, to support the Libyan authorities in improving the security of the country’s borders, was launched in 2013.

The mission was set to expire in August.