Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the war in Libya was discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in May 2019. [22672/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 May 2019, my EU counterparts and I had the opportunity to discuss recent developments in Libya, including the ongoing fighting around Tripoli, with the United Nations Special Representative for Libya, Ghassan Salamé. This conflict is endangering civilians, including vulnerable migrants and refugees, and disrupting efforts to find a political way forward for Libya.

The EU called on the parties to the conflict in Libya to immediately implement a ceasefire and to engage with the UN to ensure a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities. We called on all parties to protect civilians, including migrants and refugees, by allowing and facilitating a safe, rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and services to all those affected, and recalled that those breaching International Humanitarian Law must be held to account. Finally, we recalled that there is no military solution to the crisis in Libya, and urged all parties to recommit to the UN-facilitated political dialogue, and to work towards a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political solution through an inclusive political process.

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 to resolve the conflict. In recent EU discussions on Libya, Irish officials have highlighted the importance of guaranteeing the safety of refugees and migrants.