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Back from Libya, MEPs call on Europe to speed up the movement. A DDR/SSR mission?

visit to Libya, 13 February 2012 (credit: PE / Arnaud Danjean)

(BRUSSELS2 to Strasbourg) A few days before the celebration of the first anniversary of the "Libyan revolution" (17 February), a mission from the European Parliament was in Libya for several days.

A very instructive visit for the five MEPs from the Defense sub-committee (*) who were able to meet the main political leaders of the country: the President of the National Transitional Council, Abdul Jalil, then the Prime Minister and the main members of the Libyan government , as well as the Chief of Staff of the new Libyan army. The mission did not just go to Tripoli. The delegation also went to Benghazi, the place of origin of the rebellion, to meet the tribal chiefs & members of the CNT. And, at the start of the mission, interviews were held with international actors as well as “ brigades by Zintan & Misrata.

On his return from mission, B2 was able to speak - first by telephone then face to face - with Arnaud Danjean, the chairman of the Defense sub-committee, who kindly gave us his impressions on what he seen on the spot, impressions generally shared by the other members of the delegation”, he says. The MEP also supports a more developed presence of the European Union in the country, particularly in terms of assistance with security reforms, democracy and health.

The security situation, manageable - democracy, a cultural challenge

No chaos, but a future risk

Regarding security, I did not find the chaos described sometimes. We are not awakened every night by shots of katyoushas or Kalashnikovs explained the MEP to B2. Certainly " The Katibas crisscross the field. And neither wants to disarm before the other, without having guarantees of political transition. We therefore find ourselves rather with a juxtaposition of armed militias which derive their legitimacy from the fighting and share the ground. But there are few clashes between them, few confrontations. There is a lot of sensationalism » “It can happen of course. The situation is not satisfactory on integrated security, the army and the police are starting from scratch. It is the whole challenge to reintegrate these 'katibas' into the regular structures »

For a post-conflict situation, it is reasonable

The MEP - who has seen others -, also relativizes the effect of disorder sometimes described. " Compared to other post-conflict situations, to the chaos that we found in 2001 and that we still find in Afghanistan, or in Kosovo, in 1999, after the withdrawal of the Serbs, we are in Libya in the field of reasonable. »

Its asset, its wealth

And, then, Libya has a huge asset. “It's a rich country. And it feels. Even if this wealth is poorly distributed, especially in terms of infrastructure. So if Tripoli and its region are quite well endowed with water and electricity, the East of the country with Benghazi, is less so. (...) It is a large country geographically with few inhabitants. »

The deficit of democratic culture

On the other hand, on the democratic level, we are faced with a truly cultural problem. " There have never been elections in Libya, even fake ones. There is a lack what is a democratic debate, an electoral campaign. Two generations of Libyans do not even know what it is to put a ballot in a ballot box. " Nevertheless, there is a vibrant civil society. Many people are engaged, there are media. We feel an effervescence but also a lack of know-how which remains glaring. There is a great thirst for freedom. Corn they are not humanly accustomed to this “How to make this newfound freedom bear fruit, this democratic need, that is the full extent of this challenge. »

The Islamist influence, real but difficult to grasp

It's a challenge, recognizes Arnaud Danjean. " Seizing the real Islamist influence » is a difficulty. Because " Many advance masked This influence undoubtedly exists; but maybe not where you think. " We must relativize the power of the Islamists and their influence. Thus the influence of Abdelhakim Belhadj in Tripoli is undoubtedly overestimated. All the other militias tell us it's not a problem. And that we can "finish" him quickly if necessary. »

On the other hand, he is more worried about the east of the country. “Benghazi is, without doubt, more Islamist (NB: by tradition). It is indeed a paradox. Because that's where it all started. And we feel a liberal bubbling ". Beware, however, There is resentment in Benghazi, who see Europeans leaving the city for Tripoli, and fear that they will be marginalized in the future as they had been in the past under Gaddafi. You have to be careful not to let bitterness develop. (Otherwise) the Islamists could win ».

what can do the EU : the five recommendations of MEPs

(credit: PE / Arnaud Danjean)

MEPs intend to write to the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, to ask her to act in a more determined way and to speed up the reflection on what can be done today in Libya. The most urgent of the tasks is the establishment of a light demobilization and reintegration mission for the police and the army (DDR) as well as the structuring of the security administrations (SSR). “Now is the time to support the transition in Libya, at the democratic and security level. We were very present during the open crisis. Now that this crisis is less present, it would be absurd not to be present ". But there are also other tasks to be carried out, particularly at the democratic and civil society level.

1. Assistance mission for demobilization and administrative structuring (DDR/SSR).

« The juxtaposition of katibas can degenerate. Even if it is only potential, the threat remains. It seems urgent to us to help the Libyans in the transition. » A European mission should assist the Libyans in the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) - "even if it's an atypical DDR" - reform of security structures (SSR), and above all helps them to structure their administration”. All to respond to the Libyan hiatus “We have fairly well-qualified people at the top political level — the Chief of Staff knows what he's talking about, the Deputy Prime Minister is very good — motivated guys on the ground. But there is no administration, no intermediate level. Until now, everything was centered around the person of Kadhafi, there was no administration. This is what needs to be rebuilt. It's a challenge. (...) There is a real need for a coherent, structured, loyal, state-controlled police force. » 

This European mission could be light: “about forty people at most, civilians of good level, police or administrative experts (prefects for example). You don't need a lot of staff. And besides, a good part of the assistance could take place outside of Libya. “Certain states could contribute by welcoming some Libyan executives into their police and military academy or by sending trainers”. But for MEPs, this must be a “CSDP mission” (the common European security and defense policy). " You need strong political leadership and a certain cohesion that only a CSDP mission brings ».

The MEP warns. “There will be no boots on the ground. » This is a fundamental point for the Libyans, it is important to " take care to preserve the sovereignty of the Libyans. The Libyans are very concerned (on this point). There is a great sensitivity in the appropriation of the process. We can't do anything without them expressly asking us. You have to be very careful about that. »

2. Border management

Decided at the Paris conference - where the Europeans were entrusted by the international community and the UN with this function - the mission is moving forward " slowly ". " A process " very slow both by Europeans and Libyans. From the first assessment and expertise missions are on the ground now”. But the result will not be known. before may ». And we cannot expect the mission to start “before July” (NB: being very optimistic). " It is a very serious issue. » It is necessary " speed up the movement underline the MEPs.

3. A European consulate in Benghazi.

« At the level of the Member States and the diplomatic service, thought must be given to maintaining a European presence, whether through a few States or multilaterally. The technical office of the European Union has done an excellent job. Why not transform this attempt by creating a structure bringing together European diplomats and Member States, in a European consulate in Benghazi for the Schengen area. This is a political gesture but also responds to a very concrete need. “For the inhabitants of Benghazi, it is complicated and expensive to go to Tripoli to obtain a visa for European countries. »

4. Democratic and Electoral Assistance

We must assist and encourage civil society towards democracy Elections are scheduled for June. " Four months may seem short. But we are currently in a democratic vacuum. Can we last long without democratic legitimacy. We need a process of democratic legitimization quickly. » Libyans are “Agreed on this mission. They even want it to be installed very early, very upstream, to assist democratic debate and help democratic culture”.

5. Health

There have been " a lot of injuries. And cities like Misrata have just 30 hospital beds. “As a result, is developing in Libya, “ medical export contraband "" Many Libyans are making agreements with European countries. All this is not centralized and gives rise to a certain traffic. So we have to put some order. There is no doubt also “emergency aid to be granted. And infrastructures in the hospital sector to be developed. »

(*) The delegation was made up of A. Danjean (EPP, France, chairman of the defense sub-committee), A. Gomes (S&D, Portugal, "Libya" rapporteur), Jelko Kacin (ALDE, Slovenia), Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, EU-Maghreb Delegation), José Ignacio Salafranca (EPP, Spain, EPP Foreign Affairs Coordinator).

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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