Libya bids for ‘pick and mix’ accord with Union

Member states will discuss an agreement to be signed with Libya following the release of six medical workers this week (24 July).

The deal will be a specially tailored accord for Libya taking in some elements of the Barcelona Process, an agreement between the EU and ten Mediterranean states which involves political and security ties, aims at free-trade and sets up social and cultural partnerships.

But Libya prefers a deal targeted at certain sectors and is understood to be keen to avoid signing up to clauses contained in the Barcelona Process which demand the "strengthening of democracy and respect for human rights".

Libya’s objectives include increasing trade with the EU, especially for its agricultural and fish products, getting more scholarships for students, receiving help with archaeological restorations and making it easier for Libyan citizens to travel to the EU. These demands are contained in a memorandum published shortly after the medical workers, including five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who holds Bulgarian citizenship, were released.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado said on Tuesday that the Portuguese presidency had "strong parameters for a mandate" from the Council of Ministers for an agreement with Libya. "We need to know exactly where the Libyans want to go on this agreement as you know they have different perspectives on the Barcelona Process for instance, so we need to work on them," he added.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European commissioner for external relations, said that it was up to the Council to decide whether the Libyan demands were acceptable. "They [the Libyans] have uttered wishes [and] we have said what in principle might be possible," she said.

The medical workers were freed early on Tuesday following years of negotiations for their release by the Commission, successive EU presidencies and member states.

Libya paid $460 million (€332.7m) in compensation to the families of the more than 400 children, whom the medical workers were accused of infecting with HIV, and Ferrero-Waldner said that this money would now be paid back through voluntary contributions from member states, non-governmental organisations and private firms. Fundraising will also begin to ensure the healthcare of the children in the future is secured.

In addition, co-operation between the EU and Libya will be stepped up to monitor land and sea borders to prevent illegal immigration into the EU.

Ferrero-Waldner, who was accompanied to Libya on Monday by Cécilia Sarkozy, said the French president’s wife "had the ear of the Libyans". Nicolas Sarkozy, who travelled to Libya yesterday (25 July), his wife and Ferrero-Waldner were on Tuesday named honorary citizens of Sofia.

Member states will discuss an agreement to be signed with Libya following the release of six medical workers this week (24 July).