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Delegation of the European Union to Libya
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The European Union maintains a network of over 140 delegations worldwide. These delegations are diplomatic missions representing the European Union in third countries and act as chair of the EU presidency. They are responsible for coordinating with the diplomatic missions of Member States and ensuring coherent external representation of the EU with third countries and multilateral organisations.
European Union delegations promote EU interests and values around the world, and are in the frontline implementing EU external policy and action, from common foreign and security policy through trade and development co-operation to scientific and technical relations and humanitarian assistance.
The EU Delegation to Libya opened in Tripoli in 2011 but was temporarily relocated to Tunis following the outbreak of violence in 2014. We are eager to return to Libya as soon as possible and are engaging with the Libyan authorities to that end.
The Head of Delegation (Ambassador) is accredited as the representative of the European Union.
At the political level, the EU Delegation works closely with United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Member States and all other actors working towards the stabilisation and democratic transition of Libya. It hosts regular coordination meetings with EU member state embassies to coordinate policy and share information.
The EU is one of the biggest donors of development and humanitarian assistance to Libya, and the delegation manages an ongoing portfolio of programmes and projects amounting to around €360 million. The main funding sources are the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF - North Africa Window), the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP).
The EU is also operating two Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions in support of Libya, EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia and the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM). These missions assist Libya in securing its borders, through technical advice, training and capacity building and aim at disrupting the business model of human smugglers and help to enforce of the UN arms embargo. The CSDP missions are external to the EU Delegation, but all work closely together towards the achievement of their respective mandates.
Finally, the Delegation hosts the EU Liaison and Planning Cell (EULPC) whose main objective is to support UNSMIL in the operationalisation of military and police aspects of the Libya security track. The EULPC is also the main security analysis provider for the EU and Member States in Libya.
Alan Bugeja was appointed as EU ambassador to Libya on 1 September 2018.
He previously served as the ambassador of Malta to the Political and Security Committee of the EU and Maltese representative to the Palestinian Authority. Ambassador Bugeja has also worked for the European Commission (DG EuropeAid). He has served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta in a number of positions, mainly covering relations with North Africa and the Middle East. A fluent Arabic speaker, he holds post-graduate degrees from the Université de Tunis Nord and American University in Cairo.
Head of Delegation
Ambassador Alan BUGEJA
Head of Political Section
Nadim KARKUTLI
Head of Operations Section
Sandra GOFFIN