At Monday's meeting of the Council of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, the following conclusions were adopted with respect to Libya:
1. The EU is concerned by the significant deterioration of both the political and security situation in Libya and condemns the violence in Tripoli on 15 November which resulted in the tragic loss of life among civilians.
The EU urges all parties to avoid further bloodshed and refrain from further violence. The EU underlines its commitment to support the Libyan authorities and emphasises the need for the Libyan government and General National Congress to work jointly, within an agreed institutional framework based on the Constitutional Declaration, to achieve a peaceful and democratic political transition in a united Libya.
It calls on all relevant actors to avoid obstructing the country's economic development through unlawful actions and underlines the importance for all parties to respect fundamental values, such as the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly.
2. Recalling its commitment to support Libya in the transition towards democracy, the EU looks forward to the upcoming elections for the Constitutional Drafting Assembly and to the start of the drafting process of a new and democratic Libyan constitution.
The EU underlines the importance of an inclusive and credible electoral process where all Libyans, including minorities and women, work collectively for the fulfilment of the revolution's democratic aspirations.
Welcoming existing initiatives, the EU believes that a single inclusive national dialogue would best help to conclude successfully the agreed transitional phase and lay the ground for reconciliation. The EU will also continue supporting the next steps in the reconstruction and strengthening of the Libyan state, based on strict adherence to the rule of law by all parties.
