EU delegates have underlined in a meeting with Libyan officials their determination to support Libya in health and education institutions, private sector development and local communities as they seek to put conflict behind them.

The support reiteration came Wednesday in a meeting attended by the Head of UN-proposed government's Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sirraj with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Libya, Bettina Muscheidt, the Head of EUBAM, Vincenzo Tagliaferri, the Head of the EU Liaison and Planning Cell, Brigadier General Mauro De Vincentis and Admiral Virdis, EU Naval Force MED – Operation SOPHIA.

"But Libyans want to see their Rule of Law institutions strengthened and, across the board, respect for Human Rights. Because stability and security go hand in hand, we have come together to Tripoli today – it is a token of the EU's comprehensive approach." Head of the European Union Delegation to Libya, Muscheidt indicated.

They also discussed the EU’s comprehensive engagement in support of the Libyan government for the building of security institutions and the rule of law in Libya.

"This mission has come just days after there has been confirmation that all three components of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) supporting Libya – EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia, EUBAM Libya and the EU Liaison and Planning Cell – have been extended until December 2018." According to a press release by the EU delegation.

The visit also follows the adoption, on Friday 28 July, by the EU Trust Fund for Africa of a new programme at the tune of €46 million to reinforce the integrated migration and border management capacities of the Libyan authorities. The new actions aim at stepping up activities in support of the Libyan Border- and Coast Guards, to enhance their capacity to effectively manage the country's borders, it adds.

It also said that the programme will be implemented by the Italian Ministry of Interior and co-financed by Italy and will complement the €90 million package adopted in April 2017 focused on the country stabilization and protection of IDPs, migrants, refugees and host communities in Libya.

Under this programme, a comprehensive approach will be followed, aiming to improve living conditions for the Libyan population (enhancing access to basic services and creating employment opportunities among others) and migrants (improving the conditions in reception centers and working towards alternatives to detention) the press release added.

Attending along with Al-Sirraj from the Libyan side, there were many Libyan officials including UN-proposed government's Deputy Minister of Defense Colonel Ewhida Abdullah Ewhida, Chief of the Libyan Navy Commodore Salem Ali Salem Rhoumia and the Chief of the Libyan Coastguards, Senior Commodore Abdullah Omar Toumiyah.