Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) has declared its willingness to take an active, collaborative approach with European governments to tackle the escalating flow of migrants departing from its coastline. According to Walid Ellafi, Libya’s minister of communication and political affairs, a strategic partnership with Europe—not blanket migrant return schemes—is the most effective path to dismantling human trafficking networks and reinforcing Libya’s sovereignty and rule of law.
In remarks issued on July 24, 2025, Ellafi sharply criticized proposals such as Germany’s potential adoption of the UK‑France “one in, one out” return policy. He argued that such arrangements bypass the more substantial impact that could be made through deeper cooperation directly with Libya’s internationally recognized Tripoli government. He made clear his belief that Europe must work through the GNU to support Libyan authorities in disrupting smuggling rings at their source, rather than imposing return quotas that ignore the roots of migration flows.
Libya has long been a key transit country for migrants heading to Europe via the central Mediterranean route, which in 2025 has registered rising numbers of departures. EU officials report a 7 percent year‑on‑year increase in crossings, with particular concern over a sharp 173 percent surge in arrivals in Greece originating from eastern Libya. Ahead of planned visits from EU migration officials—including Commissioner Magnus Brunner and ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta—Ellafi’s comments underscore Tripoli’s intent to be a central participant in future migration policy development.
This shift in Libya’s posture comes amid heightened EU scrutiny over its migration cooperation with Libya. Amnesty International has condemned the EU’s arrangements as “morally bankrupt,” citing widespread human rights abuses in centres where intercepted migrants are detained—including forced labour, torture, rape, and arbitrary detention under militia control. Despite these concerns, the EU has continued to fund border operations, including training and vessel procurement, to curb migration across the Mediterranean.
Complicating matters further is the political fragmentation within Libya. In early July, the eastern-based Government of National Stability labeled EU migration officials “persona non grata” in areas under its control, after Western-endorsed representatives met with GNU leaders in Tripoli. This disagreement highlights one of the key diplomatic challenges the EU faces in engaging Libya as a unified partner. Meanwhile, Greece has stepped up its own diplomatic engagement, inviting the Tripoli-based GNU to negotiate maritime‑zone boundaries in the Mediterranean—a move meant to tackle tensions stemming from a contentious 2019 treaty between Libya and Turkey near Crete.
Meanwhile, Mediterranean migration dynamics have deepened: migrant arrivals from Libya to Italy surged nearly 40 percent this year, spurred by increasing departures from eastern Libya under Haftar-aligned authorities. Greece has also been overwhelmed—over 7,000 migrants reached Crete within ten days recently, exceeding the capacity of local processing centers, prompting authorities to transfer hundreds to the mainland and suspend asylum applications for maritime arrivals from North Africa. Tragedy continues at sea: in the latest incident, at least 15 migrants died after a boat capsized near Tobruk, eastern Libya.
In light of this complex and deteriorating scenario, Libya’s call for enhanced strategic cooperation with Europe reflects its desire to take a leadership role. The GNU insists that such collaboration must go beyond superficial policy agreements—toward actively empowering Libyan institutions to dismantle trafficking networks, formalize border control, and ensure alignment with international legal norms. Ellafi’s message makes clear Libya’s intent: migration must be tackle at the source, with Libyan authorities as partners rather than passive recipients of return schemes.
As EU migration delegations prepare to meet representatives from both the GNU and eastern rival authorities, the outcomes of these talks could redefine how Europe engages with Libya on migration. Still, human rights concerns and Libya’s internal political divide pose significant obstacles that needs to be tackle. Effective oversight mechanisms and unified Libyan representation remain essential to any sustainable partnership.
