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Libya's eastern-based government bars entry of EU migration commissioner, three ministers
BENGHAZI, EASTERN LIBYA, JUL 8 – Libyan authorities cited a breach of diplomatic protocol and canceled talks on illegal migration, ordering EU ministers to leave immediately upon arrival in Benghazi, officials said.
- On July 8, 2025, Libya's eastern-based government barred entry to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and three European interior ministers upon their arrival in Benghazi.
- The refusal occurred because the delegation allegedly violated Libyan diplomatic protocols by stopping first in Tripoli, the rival administration's capital, before arriving in eastern Libya.
- The EU delegation had met with Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli for talks on migration cooperation before being ordered to leave Benghazi immediately by eastern authorities led by Osama Hammad.
- Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi was turned back for illegal entry, and opposition lawmakers highlighted irony as Italy's government faces criticism over its strict migration policies.
- The incident underscores deep political divisions in Libya since the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of Gadhafi and highlights ongoing challenges and criticism of the EU's migration cooperation with Libya's rival administrations.
86 Articles
86 Articles
General Khalifa Haftar, known as the 'Lord of the War of Cyrenaica' -northeast of Libya- and strategic ally of the Kremlin, expelled the Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, along with a European delegation that included his homonyms from Greece and Malta and the EU immigration commissioner Magnus Brunner. His mission was clear: to seek greater control over the departures of boats loaded with immigrants to the European coasts, pa…
After talks in Tripoli, the four high-ranking politicians also want to visit East Libya. However, there is no meeting with General Haftar's government – the delegation is still being stopped at the airport.
The EU has misled the East Libyan government of General Haftar. Migration Commissioner Brunner has been declared a Persona non grata, and has been instructed to leave the country. A diplomatic eclat for lack of sensitivity. Yesterday, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, together with the interior ministers of Italy, Greece and Malta – Matteo Piantedosi, Thanos Plevris and Byron Camilleri – was declared a Persona non grata – by the East Lib…
The Minister of the Interior yesterday blocked at the airport of Benina and invited to leave the country now explains: "The accident does not undermine relations with Benghazi. If some lover of uncontrolled immigration believes to celebrate is on the wrong road"
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