The past few weeks have witnessed notable momentum in European moves towards Libya, reflecting a growing awareness within the European Union that the stability of this country is no longer an issue concerning only the southern Mediterranean, but has become directly linked to the security of European borders, the management of irregular migration, energy security, and geopolitical competition with other international powers.
This orientation has emerged through the intensification of political contacts with Libyan parties, the renewal of support for security institutions, and the strengthening of debate within EU institutions on mechanisms for dealing with escalating pressures on the continent's southern borders.
This momentum comes in a more complex European context, in which the continuation of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the rising importance of energy security, the growing influence of the right wing in a number of European countries, and growing fears that Russia and regional actors are exploiting the Libyan division to enhance their influence in the southern Mediterranean overlap. Therefore, European policy towards Libya is no longer limited to managing the crisis, but has become part of a broader vision to protect the strategic interests of the European Union.
The file of irregular migration stands out as the most urgent driver of recent European moves. During the past period, EU institutions have witnessed intensive discussions on tightening control over external borders and strengthening cooperation with transit countries in North Africa, foremost among them Libya.
Several European capitals have also reaffirmed the need to support the capabilities of the Libyan Coast Guard, and to develop mechanisms to combat human smuggling networks, in parallel with increasing support allocated to border management programs. This reflects growing internal political pressures on European governments, especially after migration has become one of the most prominent files of electoral competition in countries such as Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
In this context, European moves are also linked to the implementation of the EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum, which pushes towards strengthening the external dimension of migration policies, through concluding security partnerships with countries of origin and transit, instead of relying on managing flows after they arrive on European territory. Libya is viewed as one of the most important links in this approach, due to its geographical location on the southern coast of the Mediterranean, and its continued use as a major departure point for migrants towards Europe.
As for border security and support for Libyan security institutions, the European Union has intensified its support for institutional capacity-building programs, focusing on training agencies concerned with border management, and developing cooperation with Libyan security agencies in the fields of combating organized crime, human trafficking, and arms smuggling. The European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) also continues to support the development of security institutions, despite the constraints imposed by the political and security division inside Libya.
These efforts reflect a European awareness that the success of any migration policy or fight against cross-border crime remains contingent on the existence of more effective and coordinated Libyan security institutions. In contrast, the European Union realizes that the continuation of the division between military and security institutions limits Libya's ability to extend its control over its land and sea borders, making institutional support an essential part of its long-term approach.
The file of energy security is receiving increasing attention in European policy towards Libya, especially since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the subsequent European quest to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on Russian gas. Libya, with its large reserves of oil and gas and its geographical proximity to Europe, is considered an important partner in this strategy. From this standpoint, several European countries, led by Italy, have intensified their contacts with Libyan institutions concerned with the energy sector, with the aim of ensuring continuity of production, protecting oil facilities, and encouraging investments in energy infrastructure.
At the same time, European moves are linked to geopolitical competition in Libya. The European Union views with concern the continued Russian influence in the country, and the growing roles of other regional powers, prompting it to strengthen its diplomatic and security presence to maintain a foothold in the Libyan scene. Some European capitals also fear that the continuation of the political division will allow greater space for the expansion of competitors' influence, whether in the security field or in the energy sector.
These moves cannot be separated from internal developments in EU member states. The rise of right-wing and populist parties in a number of countries has led to increasing pressure on governments to adopt more hardline stances towards migration, and to link border security to foreign policies. Stability in the southern Mediterranean is also increasingly being presented as a European internal security issue, and not merely a file of foreign policy.
Despite this momentum, the European approach still faces major challenges, most notably the continuation of the Libyan political division, the multiplicity of power centers, and the differing priorities of EU member states. While Italy focuses more on migration and energy, France pays broader attention to the linkage between Libya and the security of the Sahel region, while other countries focus on curbing Russian influence. This divergence sometimes affects the EU's ability to formulate a unified and more effective policy.
Overall, recent European moves indicate that Libya has regained its position as a strategic priority in the EU agenda, not only as a neighboring country, but as an intersection point for migration, border security, energy, and international competition files. This engagement is likely to continue in the coming phase, with a greater focus on building security institutions, strengthening partnerships with Libyan authorities, and linking internal stability in Libya to the collective security of southern European countries and the European Union as a whole.
