Operation Irini

Council extends the mandate of Operation IRINI until 2023

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Second Libyan Civil War, Peace, Common Security and Defence Policy, Operation Atalanta, Arms embargo, Political and Security Committee, Operation Irini, Operation Sophia

The Council today extended the mandate of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military operation in the Mediterranean - EUNAVFOR MED IRINI - until 31 March 2023.

Key Points: 
  • The Council today extended the mandate of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military operation in the Mediterranean - EUNAVFOR MED IRINI - until 31 March 2023.
  • The decision was taken in the wake of the Strategic Review of the operation carried out by the Political and Security Committee.
  • In this context, the Council has defined more precisely the practical arrangements for the disposal of items seized by the operation when implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya.
  • IRINI is led by Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini as EU Operation Commander, and its headquarters are located in Rome, Italy.

Libya: a glimmer of hope

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 4, 2020
Geography of Africa, Africa, Countries, Military history of Libya, Foreign relations of Libya, Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, Government of National Accord, Khalifa Haftar, Operation Irini, 2019–20 Western Libya campaign, Libyan Civil War

  Since the 2011 Arab Spring, Libya – a country of 6.7 million inhabitants, potentially very rich with immense oil reserves – has been beset by violent conflicts between different factions and militias, as well as outside players and actors.Ten years of violent conflicts The Libyan people have suffered enormously and the instability in the country has had negative spill over effects on regional security, affecting neighbouring countries and the whole Sahel region. The country also served as a major route for people trafficking and irregular migration to Europe. Only a few kilometres away from the European coast, this chronic instability has long been a major concern for the EU.“Only a few kilometres away from the European coast, the Libyan chronic instability has long been a major concern for the EU.”Shortly after, Ghassan Salame, then UN Special Representative for Libya and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), proposed an elaborated peace plan.

Key Points: 


  Since the 2011 Arab Spring, Libya – a country of 6.7 million inhabitants, potentially very rich with immense oil reserves – has been beset by violent conflicts between different factions and militias, as well as outside players and actors.

Ten years of violent conflicts


    The Libyan people have suffered enormously and the instability in the country has had negative spill over effects on regional security, affecting neighbouring countries and the whole Sahel region. The country also served as a major route for people trafficking and irregular migration to Europe. Only a few kilometres away from the European coast, this chronic instability has long been a major concern for the EU.

“Only a few kilometres away from the European coast, the Libyan chronic instability has long been a major concern for the EU.”

    • Shortly after, Ghassan Salame, then UN Special Representative for Libya and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), proposed an elaborated peace plan.
    • The plan called for a ceasefire and an internal dialogue between the warring Libyan parties.
    • This plan was accepted by General Haftar and the Government of National Accord (GNA) led by President Faiez Serraj and based in Tripoli.

The “Berlin process” to forge international unity for peace

    • To actively support the UN-led meditation process and since any solution depended on the buy-in of the international actors involved, Germany initiated the Berlin process to forge the necessary international unity in favour of peace in Libya.
    • The process led to a conference in Berlin at the beginning of 2020, which adopted a 55-point declaration specifying the different elements of a possible agreement and establishing an internationally supported process to contribute to ending the conflict.

Foreign interference on the ground has multiplied in recent months: the conflict parties continue to receive arms, mercenaries and financial support, and some countries even sent troops or threatened to do so.

    • Foreign interference on the ground has multiplied in recent months, including notably by Turkey, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, backing different sides of the conflict.
    • In violation of the United Nations arms embargo, the conflict parties continue to receive arms, mercenaries and financial support, and some countries even sent troops or threatened to do so.

The Libyan people, faced with very difficult living conditions aggravated by the Covid-19 outbreak, are exasperated by the continuing civil war.


    Fighting also led to a prolonged freeze on the Libyan oil production and exports, which is the main source of revenue for the country. The Libyan people, faced with very difficult living conditions aggravated by the Covid-19 outbreak, are exasperated by the continuing civil war.

A rare piece of good news

    • In August of this year, a rare piece of good news came when President Faiez Serraj and Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the House of Representatives, based in Eastern Libya, agreed to call for a ceasefire and unblock the oil production.
    • We immediately welcomed this initiative.
    • However, it remains unclear to what extent this agreement will be implemented in practice by the two sides, and the understanding has not yet found the support of General Haftar.
    • If Libya were to return to its normal production level, this would enable it to earn at least 10 billion each year.

As EU, we want Libya to preserve its territorial integrity and Libyans to decide their own future, free from external interference


    I underlined the EU’s commitment to help rebuilding Libya, which is also in our very own interest. As EU, we want Libya to preserve its territorial integrity and Libyans to decide their own future, free from external interference. A stable and peaceful Libya could be a solid partner for the EU and the region to collaborate effectively on economic development, energy, trade, security, education, and migration.

EU Operation Irini has proven its utility

    • We also discussed EU naval Operation Irini, which monitors the arms embargo in the Mediterranean in line with a UNSC mandate.
    • So far, Irini has conducted more than 600 hailings of vessels to control the arms embargo and related to oil smuggling.

I was encouraged by all my interlocutors’ commitment to the Berlin process as the way out of the stalemate, and the shared desire to ensure that foreign fighters leave the country.

    • However, we see a glimmer of hope and I was encouraged by all interlocutors commitment to the Berlin process as the way out of the Libyan stalemate, and the shared desire to ensure that foreign fighters leave the country.
    • Even though we are well aware of the magnitude of the task ahead, I return from this trip more optimistic for Libya's future.
    • Let's get to work now, in close connection with the UN and all relevant players, so that this time the chance for peace becomes real.