Source: European Parliament
In line with the President of the Commission’s political guidelines presented in July 2024[1] there is a need to strengthen the coordination of search and rescue (SAR) operations to prevent loss of life at sea, including in cooperation with neighbouring third countries .
The Commission confirms that providing EU financial support to the training and capacity building of the Libyan coastguard for operations in its own SAR zone contributes to the efforts of saving lives of people who disembark on dangerous journeys, often resorting to smugglers and traffickers, and risking their lives.
Notably, in the framework of the EU-funded ‘Support to integrated border and migration management in Libya’ programme, the Commission aims at improving Libyan authorities’ capacity to carry out SAR operations and thus saving lives both at sea and in the desert, in respect of international rules and human rights obligations.
The Commission takes note of the June 2024 Croton Civil Court ruling. It is committed to continue to engage, alongside the international partners, with the Libyan authorities to ensure that SAR operations are carried out in line with international standards .
A regular dialogue at technical level has been established with Libyan authorities to address all issues in the context of migration and protection, including respect of human rights.
Five technical missions of the Commission took place between 2024 and 2025 and observed notable improvements on both engagement from the Libyan authorities and practical results in terms of access to disembarkation points and detention centres, release of vulnerable migrants, and the doubling of voluntary humanitarian returns, compared to the figures of 2023.
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf