Parliamentary questions
5 May 2011 O-000114/2011
Question for oral answer
to the Council
Rule 115
Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Marielle De Sarnez, Jelko Kacin, Marietje Schaake, Edward McMillan-Scott, Baroness Sarah Ludford, Charles Goerens, Stanimir Ilchev, on behalf of the ALDE Group
Subject: EU position on Libya
The EU reactions to the popular uprising and the civil war in Libya have been rather hesitant and tardy. In mid-February the Commission and the Libyan authorities negotiated the EU-Libya Framework Agreement and the implementation of a EUR 50 million financial assistance package - while the people of Libya demonstrated in the streets of Tripoli and Benghazi. A week later the Council called for a ‘Libyan-led dialogue’ to calm down the situation. Next day Mr Gaddafi insulted the people of Libya, calling them ‘rats’ and ‘cockroaches’.
The EU had no common stance on Libya prior to the vote on UN Security Council resolution 1973. Germany abstained while France, the UK and Portugal voted for the resolution.
France and the UK have led the process while the EU foreign policy chief, High Representative Catherine Ashton, has for the most part only reacted. The EU has been on the side track and has made no significant initiatives.
1. At what stage did HR Catherine Ashton try to reach a common EU position on the situation in Libya? What concrete initiatives did HR Ashton make (based on her responsibilities laid down in Article 31 of the Lisbon Treaty)? Did HR Ashton try to coordinate a common EU stance prior to the UN Security Council vote on resolution 1973?
2. The situation in Libya is a stalemate between the Gaddafi forces and the rebels. What are the next immediate steps in Libya?
