Authorities in eastern Libya denied entry and deported three European interior ministers and the European Commissioner for Migration, citing violations of diplomatic procedures. The move highlights ongoing political fragmentation in Libya and the sensitivity surrounding international engagement with the divided state.
Eastern Libya Labels Delegation “Persona Non-Grata”
A statement issued by Osama Hammad, the Prime Minister of the eastern Libyan administration, confirmed that the delegation—comprising EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri—was declared persona non-grata upon arrival in Benghazi.
The statement claimed the officials “entered illegally and had not followed Libyan diplomatic conventions.”
“The ministers were in flagrant contravention of established diplomatic norms and international conventions, and through actions that demonstrably disregard Libyan national sovereignty, as well as in violation of Libyan domestic laws,” the statement read.
The administration added that international delegations are expected to engage with Libyan authorities “in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, as enshrined in international agreements, treaties, and diplomatic custom.”
Prior Meeting in Tripoli Triggers Rejection in Benghazi
The EU officials initially met with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, Libya’s internationally recognized western capital. The eastern authorities reportedly viewed this stopover as a diplomatic slight, leading to the decision to block further travel.
Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hadzidakis suggested the sequence of meetings was central to the issue:
“However, in Benghazi — perhaps because the visit to Tripoli came first — the Benghazi government decided it would not receive the European Commissioner and the three ministers,” Hadzidakis said on Greece’s ERT television. “I don’t think that was a constructive move, especially given that the European Union is genuinely trying to find a solution to this very unusual situation.”
Foreign delegations typically coordinate with both the eastern and western governments when planning visits to avoid such incidents. It remains unclear whether the proper permits for visiting eastern Libya were requested or obtained.
EU Delegation Downplays Incident
Despite being turned away in Benghazi, Commissioner Brunner portrayed the mission as a success on social media.
“We just concluded our mission to Libya together with the Ministers responsible for migration from Greece, Italy and Malta,” he wrote, noting the delegation had “held in-depth discussions” with Prime Minister Dbeibah and other Cabinet officials.
He acknowledged only that “the meetings planned in Benghazi could not take place in the end,” without offering further detail.
Migration Policy in Focus Amid Political Tensions
The delegation’s mission was aimed at advancing cooperation on migration controls. The EU has invested heavily in curbing irregular migration from Libya, which has long been a transit hub for people attempting to reach Europe by sea. Years of political instability and the presence of competing governments have complicated these efforts.
Following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi, Libya descended into factional conflict. Two competing governments now operate in the country: one in Tripoli led by Dbeibah, and another in the east headed by Hammad, with military commander Khalifa Hifter exerting significant influence.
Southern and eastern Libya are largely under the control of Hifter’s forces, and official visits to these areas typically require coordination with his allied administration.
Political Reaction in Europe
In Italy, critics of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s migration policies seized on the incident. Opposition lawmakers noted the irony of the deportation of Italy’s interior minister over alleged entry violations.
“Piantedosi was turned back from Libya because he was accused of illegal entry,” wrote Democratic Party lawmaker Matteo Orfini on Facebook. “I was thinking of an ironic comment but I’d say that’s good as is.”
The diplomatic fallout from the EU delegation’s visit underlines Libya’s divided governance and the challenges facing international actors seeking to engage with both administrations. The incident may further complicate European Union efforts to partner with Libyan authorities on migration enforcement and border control.
