Background

The European Union Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) was established in 2013 to support the capacity of Libyan authorities to enhance the security of their land, sea and air borders in the short term and to develop a broader Integrated Border Management (IBM) strategy in the long term. EUBAM is complementary to the UN-Mission (UNSMIL), established in 2011 at the request of the Libyan authorities to support the country's new transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts.

Due to the deteriorating security situation in Libya, the Mission was relocated to Tunis in 2014 and continued to map Libyan actors in Security Sector Reform in view of a possible future civilian mission in the field of police, rule of law and border management.

After re-establishing a light presence in Tripoli from 2017, since December 2018, EUBAM Libya also contributes to support Libyan authorities in their efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks involved notably in smuggling migrants, human trafficking and terrorism. The Mission's headquarters were moved back to Tripoli in 2019, with Tunis maintained as a sub-office.

Mission & goals

EUBAM supports the Libyan authorities to:

• develop a broader border management framework in Libya, including a maritime security strategy, by providing advice, capacity delivery and implementing concrete projects for the relevant Libyan agencies;
• strengthen capacity building and strategic planning within the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on law enforcement, including assistance to the UNSMIL in its police capacity building efforts;
• support institutional reform and providing strategic planning assistance to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and broader capacity building for the relevant criminal justice actors;
• and enhance strategic coordination between donors and project implementation in response to Libyan needs in the abovementioned areas of engagement.

The Mission furthermore supports international partners through coordination efforts in the policy areas related to its mandate. 

The protection and promotion of human rights is a central principle of EUBAM. The Mission applies gender inclusiveness across all its activities. To this end, the mission applies comprehensive conflict, rights and gender sensitive analysis prior to all activities, and applies appropriate standard risk mitigating measures in all its activities.

Composition

EUBAM operates from its Headquarters in Tripoli and maintains a sub-office in Tunis mitigating against restrictions caused by the changing security situation in Libya. .

Participation in EUBAM Libya is limited to EU Member States. In October 2020, the Mission counted with 38 Mission members from 13 Member States distributed between Tunis and Tripoli, corresponding to the situation and priorities.

@Follow us:

Mission/operation website: www.eubam-libya.eu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EUinLibya

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EUBAMLibya