EU Deepens “Technical” Migration Cooperation with Libya’s Eastern Authorities Amid Rising Crossings
The European Union is intensifying its engagement with Libyan authorities in the east, including those under General Khalifa Haftar, to stem the flow of irregular migration, according to sources speaking to Euronews. While the EU describes this as long-standing “technical” cooperation, recent interactions have escalated, blurring the lines between operational needs and political recognition.
This week, a delegation of civil servants and military figures from eastern Libya—a governing body not internationally recognized—is holding meetings in Brussels and Warsaw. Organized by the European Commission and the EU border agency, Frontex, these talks aim to address the sharp increase in migrant departures from Libyan shores, all while navigating strict human rights obligations.
The Current “Technical” Mission
The high-level visit underscores a pragmatic, if controversial, shift in EU strategy. The agenda includes sessions in Brussels and at the Frontex headquarters in Warsaw, designed to foster cooperation on limiting departure points for migrant boats. A key goal is for Libyan officials to understand Frontex’s mandate and how it supports EU member states with border control.
EU officials stress that such technical meetings, where civil servants discuss the logistics of migration management, are not a new phenomenon. However, engaging directly with eastern Libyan authorities is diplomatically sensitive due to their lack of international recognition. The EU’s official interactions have historically been with the internationally recognized government in Tripoli.
Why Libya Remains a Critical Focus for the EU
Libya is a primary transit country for migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe. Recent Frontex data reveals a dramatic surge, with detections on the eastern Libya-to-Crete route increasing by approximately 280% in September compared to the previous year. Overall departures from Libya have risen by about 50%, putting immense pressure on EU member states to find solutions.
In response to this crisis, authorities in eastern Libya have announced plans to organize voluntary returns for migrants held in detention centers under their control, sending them back to their countries of origin.
A History of Controversial Cooperation
The EU’s collaboration with Libya on migration dates back to 2013 with the launch of the Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM). A significant policy shift, however, began in mid-2025. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explicitly urged EU leaders to engage with “authorities in the West and East” of Libya to improve border management and counter smugglers.
This new approach has been rocky. A July 2025 visit to Benghazi by EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta ended in a diplomatic fiasco when the delegation was expelled after refusing to pose for a photo-op with eastern Libyan authorities.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations continue to sound the alarm. Groups like Amnesty International have described the EU’s cooperation as “morally bankrupt,” citing extensive reports from the UN and civil society of widespread abuses, torture, and arbitrary detention in Libyan migrant centers. Critics argue that the EU’s focus on halting departures “by any means” overlooks the immense suffering of migrants.
The Core Dilemma: Border Security vs. Human Rights
The EU maintains that all cooperation is conditional and underpinned by commitments to human rights and the rule of law. Officials frame the “technical” meetings as a way to focus purely on operational methods, not politics.
Yet, this distinction is increasingly difficult to maintain. Critics argue that working at any level with unrecognized authorities in eastern Libya risks legitimizing them without ensuring accountability for human rights abuses. For Brussels and Frontex, the central challenge remains: balancing the urgent, politically-driven need to reduce migrant crossings with the moral and legal imperative to protect human dignity. As migration pressures mount, the world is watching how the EU navigates this precarious tightrope.
