The Libyan conflict and migration across the Mediterranean : is there a role for Ireland?

Abstract

The EU has, as of August 2020, been unable to provide coherent and effective responses to assist in resolving or even managing the Libyan conflict, and to the management of migratory flows from Libya. Within the Libyan context, these two issues are closely connected as the lack of an effective central government and the proliferation of militias contribute to the business of human smuggling. The larger EU Mediterranean states, France and Italy, have tried to lead the efforts in dealing with the Libyan conflict and Libyan migratory flows. Both states have been competing for influence in Libya for many years, in terms of their respective geopolitical and commercial interests. These business interests (and their colonial history in the region) mean that the contributions of other EU member states towards managing the security and migration situation in Libya should be explored. Particularly, the contribution of smaller EU states with a good record of humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping, such as Ireland, warrants consideration. This paper commences with a brief overview of the security situation in Libya and how this is impacting both the humanitarian situation of migrants in Libya (and Libyan civilians) as well as the migratory flows from Libya towards the European Union (EU). It then proceeds to briefly critique the efforts made by the EU and specifically its larger member states in the Libyan context. The paper concludes by making the case for the contribution that may be made by small states such as Ireland towards the management of the conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in Libya. In particular, this paper suggests that cooperation between Ireland and Malta in the context of Libya is an avenue that merits serious consideration.