The European Union has committed an additional €25 million ($29 million) to expand migration control and rescue operations in eastern Libya, according to a letter from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to EU leaders seen by Reuters.
The funding will support border management, search-and-rescue, and anti-smuggling efforts in areas controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar. The move signals increased EU engagement with eastern Libya, where migrant departures have risen despite the EU’s formal recognition of only the Tripoli-based government.
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has become a major transit route for migrants attempting the perilous crossing to Europe. Control of the country remains divided between rival administrations in the west and east, complicating international efforts to manage migration.
The EU and its member states have long supported and trained the Libyan coast guard, which intercepts migrants at sea. In recent months, Brussels has intensified contacts with eastern Libyan authorities, reflecting a strategic adjustment as migrant departures from Haftar-controlled areas increase.
In July, the EU announced plans to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Benghazi, a city in eastern Libya, further expanding cooperation with local authorities. The new €25 million funding package builds on that initiative.
Von der Leyen described Libya as “the top country of departure for illegal crossings to the EU” in her letter. She framed an upcoming EU-Libya meeting as a means to maintain ongoing cooperation. The letter also noted support for voluntary returns from Libya to countries of origin, provided by the EU and the International Organisation for Migration.
She wrote: “We are equally focused on reducing the number of migrants arriving in Libya with the sole intention of crossing illegally into the EU.”
Migration across the Mediterranean remains a flashpoint, with thousands risking the sea crossing each year. The EU’s increased involvement in eastern Libya reflects both the complexity of the country’s fractured governance and the urgency Brussels places on curbing irregular migration.
The additional funding arrives amid growing international concerns over human rights abuses and the treatment of migrants in Libya. However, the EU’s engagement has continued to prioritize operational cooperation with local authorities, including those aligned with Haftar.
The expansion of border control and rescue efforts in eastern Libya comes as the EU seeks to contain migration flows before they reach European shores, reinforcing a strategy focused on externalising border management.
The new €25 million package demonstrates the EU’s willingness to engage with multiple actors within Libya’s divided political landscape, even as it formally recognises only the Tripoli government.
According to Joy Online.
