Why did Libya turn away the European leaders in migration talks?

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The goal was to hammer out fresh agreements in Libya to curb migrant departures before the summer, thus forestalling a situation that, as Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi warned last Tuesday morning, “risks worsening with the warm season.”

For that very reason, the European Union had spent days assembling a high-level mission scheduled to visit both Tripoli and Benghazi. The plan collapsed on Tuesday when Team Europe – led by Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and flanked by the interior ministers of Italy, Malta and Greece – after meeting in Tripoli with Government of National Unity prime minister Abdelhamid Dabaiba, was stopped on landing at Benina airport in Benghazi, Cyrenaica, and ordered to leave the country at once. They were branded persona non grata and expelled.

The unprecedented step was announced by the eastern administration headed by Prime Minister Osama Hamad, an executive not internationally recognised but courted for years by both Italy and the EU. Only a month ago, Piantedosi had received General Saddam Haftar, son of Cyrenaica strongman Khalifa Haftar, at the Interior Ministry to discuss the migration issue. On Tuesday, Benghazi justified its decision by citing alleged “serious violations of diplomatic protocol and Libyan sovereignty.” 

“These actions are a flagrant contravention of established diplomatic norms and international convention, demonstrably disregard Libyan national sovereignty and constitute a direct violation of Libyan domestic law,” the statement read, amounting to accusing the EU delegation of entering the country illegally.

Interior Ministry sources in Rome tried to play down the episode, speaking of a protocol misunderstanding that had prevented the whole delegation from carrying out the visit. Most of all, they stressed that the label of “persona non grata” did not refer to the Italian minister but to another of those present. As of Tuesday night, the matter went unmentioned by Piantedosi, who posted on X only about the meeting held in Tripoli with Dabaiba.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to overlook the maze of interests and internal Libyan rivalries that may lurk behind Benghazi’s rejection of the European team.

To prepare for Tuesday’s trip, three days earlier Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, worried by the uptick in migrants reaching the islet of Gavdos originating from Libyan shores, had flown to Benghazi to meet Marshal Haftar. Back home he stated that Tripoli and Benghazi should be treated on the same level – words likely interpreted as a provocation in Cyrenaica. However, some analysts have pointed out that the decision to reject the Brussels delegation may have been dictated by Prime Minister Osama Hammad's desire to assert his central role.

Whatever the cause, the affair unleashed a torrent of reactions in Italy, with opposition parties sparing neither sarcasm nor criticism of the Interior Minister. “Piantedosi rejected at the Libyan border – pushbacks are an ugly thing, Minister…,” wrote Nicola Fratoianni of AVS on social media, while former deputy minister Mauro Mauri quipped that “the news sometimes serves priceless gems. We now expect the Interior Minister to have himself detained in Albania.” 

Angelo Bonelli, Green Europe co-spokesman, said that “Italy keeps weaving political and economic ties with regimes that are the real driving force behind human trafficking. This time, Piantedosi has been the victim of poetic justice.” 

Riccardo Magi of +Europa was also critical of the agreements between Italy and Libya. “Meloni should review the agreements with the Libyans and not sacrifice human lives for her propaganda,” he commented. “Piantedosi will return home tonight, while hundreds of men and women trying to reach Europe will end up in the hands of torturers.”

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Originally published at https://ilmanifesto.it/leuropa-prova-a-sbarcare-in-libia-ma-viene-respinta on 2025-07-09