The Malta Independent 5 October 2024, Saturday
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EU shores up Libyan coast guard amid Covid-19 scare

Friday, 24 April 2020, 09:55 Last update: about 5 years ago

The European Union is reshuffling budgets to further shore up Libya's coast guard and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU Observer reports.

The money talks, held among EU foreign ministers earlier this week, comes amid a sharp spike in violence in the country.

The move is part of a proposal first floated by Malta to ease the tensions inside the civil-war torn country out of wider fears a mass of people will flee on boats towards Europe. 

Although figures are still being finalised, an EU official familiar with the talks provided a basic and partial breakdown of what is set to be around €100m.

At least €15m has been earmarked for the coast guard and €20m to fight Covid-19 alongside with the International Organization for Migration, said the source, who asked not to be named.

Those figures could shift, however.

The money is being taken from the European Neighbourhood Instrument, the EU's financial arm when it comes to countries like Libya. It will also come from the North of Africa section of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

The Visegrád Group, composed of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, are also pitching in from their own €35m pot.

Full report here

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