Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 57, 66 and 91 together.

I am deeply concerned about the ongoing fighting around the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The military attack launched by the so-called Libyan National Army, LNA, which led to this escalation, is putting civilians at risk and disrupting efforts to find a peaceful resolution to an ongoing conflict.

As of Friday, 12 April, this fighting had claimed the lives of dozens of people, including at least 17 civilians, and displaced almost 10,000 people. I am especially concerned for the safety of civilians in the area of conflict. I fully support the UN's call for an immediate humanitarian truce to allow access for emergency services and to facilitate civilians who wish to move away from conflict areas.

At the Foreign Affairs Council on 8 April there was an exchange of views on Libya which highlighted the EU's shared concern about the recent violence and our conviction of the urgent need for all parties to implement immediately a humanitarian truce, to refrain from further military escalation and to return to negotiations. Member states also reiterated their support for the efforts of the UN special representative Ghassan Salamé in working towards peace and stability in Libya. He has come to speak to Foreign Affairs Ministers on two occasions, if not more.

In a declaration agreed by all member states on 11 April, the EU called on all parties to cease military operations and specifically called on the LNA and all the forces that have moved into Tripoli or its vicinity to withdraw. The EU reminded the parties involved in this confrontation that they must respect international law, including international humanitarian law, and that those who violate it will be held to account. The EU's unequivocal message to the parties is that there is no military solution to this crisis, only a political one. We strongly urged all parties to resume political dialogue without delay and to continue to engage in the UN-led process for an inclusive political settlement.

EU diplomats regularly discuss the situation in Libya, taking stock of any opportunities to exert a positive influence on the situation and to support political efforts. I expect that the next Foreign Affairs Council in May will have a further discussion on the situation in Libya but I very much hope that conditions will have improved on the ground before then.

The Libyan people have suffered greatly from years of conflict and political fragmentation and deserve to live in a peaceful and prosperous society. The political process, which is the only way to bring this suffering to an end and to return Libya's governance to a more stable footing, has unfortunately become a casualty of this recent violence. The UN-organised national conference, which had been scheduled for 14 to 16 April, has had to be postponed due to a deteriorating security situation. Ireland and the EU continue to believe that the national conference should be held as soon as circumstances allow in order to bring together the various political factions in Libya, with the aim of holding democratic elections. This is the only way to unify the country's institutions and to set Libya on the path to stability and economic recovery. Ireland and the EU continue to support the efforts of the UN special representative to bring this about. All Libyans and all international parties should give their full support to the UN political efforts.

I am deeply concerned that the current violence might put already vulnerable migrants and refugees in Libya at even further risk. I welcome the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, to relocate a number of refugees and migrants who were in more dangerous areas into safe zones. In EU discussions of the situation in Libya last week, Irish officials highlighted the importance of guaranteeing the safety of refugees and migrants.  Ireland and the EU continue to support the work of the UN migration and refugee agencies to monitor and improve conditions for refugees and migrants in Libya, including inside detention centres, and to assist with the voluntary return of migrants to their countries of origin. We are aware that the current instability in Libya unfortunately limits further the capacity of the international community to do this important work in some areas.

In December 2018, the Council adopted conclusions on Libya noting that there can only be a political solution to the Libyan crisis that needs to come from the Libyans themselves through an inclusive political process. This continues to be the case.  Ireland and the EU will continue to monitor the situation in Libya and will support efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict and build a better future for the Libyan people.

Linked to the challenges faced by and suffering of migrants, it is very regrettable that Operation Sophia has now been dramatically scaled down. It no longer includes the presence of ships and is now effectively a surveillance mission by air. That is a mistake by the EU and it is something we need to reflect on and correct. Getting collective agreement in the EU regarding ports that can facilitate the landing of refugees will prove very difficult, however.

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