Libya conflict: EU adopts sanctions for violating arms embargo

Icon: enlarge

Fighters of a pro-government militia in the south of the Lebanese capital Tripoli

Photo: 

Mahmud Turkia / AFP

In view of repeated violations of the UN arms embargo against Libya, the European Union has adopted new punitive measures.

The foreign ministers of the member states unanimously passed a corresponding resolution, as the news agencies dpa and AFP reported, citing EU circles.

The punitive measures are therefore directed against companies and individuals who have provided ships, aircraft or other logistics for the transport of war material.

Specifically, according to information from EU circles, it is about three companies from Turkey, Jordan and Kazakhstan as well as two people from Libya.

Possible accounts of the companies in the EU will be blocked by the sanctions.

In addition, European companies are no longer allowed to maintain business relationships with them.

Entry bans are imposed on the people.

For the first time, the EU is imposing its own sanctions

The sanctions were decided in principle by the EU ambassadors of the 27 member states on Friday and have now been put into effect by the ministers.

It is the first time that the EU has imposed independent sanctions for violating the arms embargo.

So far it had only implemented UN sanctions in this area.

Civil war has raged in Libya since the overthrow of long-term ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.

The government troops are supported by Turkey, among others, their opponent, General Khalifa Haftar, in turn by Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

All attempts to mediate in the conflict have so far been unsuccessful - including a Libya conference in Berlin in January.

There, at least Turkey and the Emirates had committed themselves to complying with the embargo.

According to UN information, the deliveries have continued unabated since then.

For countries like Germany, France and Italy, a solution is also important because the chaotic conditions favor the business of smugglers who illegally bring migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe.

In March this year, the EU decided on a new naval mission to enforce the arms embargo.

The military operation "Irini" uses ships and airplanes to monitor the sea route to Libya in particular.

Most recently, a German naval ship stopped a tanker with fuel and thus prevented a violation of the arms embargo.

Icon: The mirror

mes / dpa / AFP