The diplomatic delegations of the European Union and the member states present in Libya have welcomed the agreement signed this Sunday by the different Libyan factions to advance in the 'roadmap' towards the expected national elections that, after decades of conflict, must be held within a maximum period of 24 months.
"This agreement represents an important step towards the unification of institutions and the creation of the conditions for holding fair national elections," the EU delegation and the European diplomatic missions in the North African country have stated in a joint statement.
In the same note, the delegations have wanted to highlight from the involved parties "their constructive approach, their political responsibility, and their willingness to find common ground in the interest of the nation."
Furthermore, they have explicitly requested the House of Representatives and the High Council of State to adopt without delay the necessary decisions for the "prompt implementation" of the pact, and have called "on all Libyan institutions and relevant stakeholders to seize this opportunity to consolidate the progress made and reach a consensus that allows the country to regain legitimacy and institutional unity."
The community diplomacy has also emphasized that it will continue "supporting Libya and its people in defense of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the country," while reiterating its support for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the special representative of the Secretary-General, Hanna Tetteh, to "facilitate a truly Libyan-led and owned political process."
The reaction of the European Union comes after the ratification of a document that establishes the appointment of the head of the Electoral Commission and the development of the necessary legal framework to organize the elections.
The text includes, among other points, that citizens with dual nationality can aspire to public office, on the condition that the winning candidate renounces the second citizenship before taking office. It also opens the door to the participation of military personnel under formulas that ensure their neutrality and determines that there will be no second round of the presidential elections if in the first a candidate obtains a simple majority, also unlinking its results from the legislative elections.
According to the draft circulated by Libyan media, the elections must be held within a "period not exceeding 24 months, under a single executive power and unified national institutions" and, if this unification is not possible, "the parties will work with the UN mission to find the best mechanism to achieve this electoral milestone," according to the text itself.
The two main drivers of the pact, the Prime Minister of the Tripoli Government, Abdulhamid Dbeibé, and the high commander of the forces based in the east, Sadam Haftar, have presented the agreement as a key advance for the future of the country. In contrast, the head of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Menfi, has positioned himself against it and has denounced on social media the lack of transparency in the process, although his signature is not essential for the document to come into effect.