EU lambasts report purporting plans to send military troop to Libya

The European External Action Service (EEAS), the diplomatic service and combined Foreign and Defense ministry of the European Union (EU), rejected charges leveled against the EU allegedly planning to send military forces to Libya to prop up ceasefire, Libya Observer reports.

“The EU is committed to continue supporting Libya’s return to peace and stability, including through its civilian mission EUBAM Libya and its military operation in the Mediterranean EUNAVFOR MED IRINI,” EEAS spokesperson Nabila Massrali said.

The denial came following a Monday report by influential, investigative media EUobserver noting that EU is firming up plans for a military mission to Libya in order to compete for influence with foreign powers there, according to a leaked paper.

The internal document, dated July 1, indicated that Libya’s peace process required large-scale disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of combatants as well as a fundamental security sector reform (SSR).

“In this context, an EU military Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) engagement should be considered in order not to leave the entire field of activity in the military domain to third states. In the long term and when conditions allow, a military CSDP engagement with a mandate to support the SSR process in the military domain should be considered,” the document said.