MEPs Demand EU Recognition of Libyan Rebels

Members of the European Parliament vote on the EU'S southern neighborhood and Libya, including humanitarian aspects, during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 10 March 2011. EPA/BGNES

The members of the European Parliament have urged EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton to recognize the Interim National Council as official representing the Libyan opposition.

The EP resolution backed by all political groups, also calls on EU Member States to "stand ready" for a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya, as NATO and EU ministers are discussing their options for an intervention in Libya including through the setting up of no fly zone to prevent the Gaddafi regime from striking the anti-regime rebels.

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has already been fighting for weeks for his survival against a popular uprising that started as a civil unrest, an aftershock of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt.

On Thursday, France became the first country to officially recognize the Libyan opposition transitional National Council as the country's legitimate government.

The announcement was made after a meeting of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and two representatives of the council, the BBC informed.

The MEPs have also urged the EU to help with the repatriation of migrants who fled the violence in North Africa. They call for coordinating EU measures with the African Union and the Arab League on the potential setting up of a no fly zone over Libya that could be mandated by the UN Security Council.

The European Parliament is deeply concerned with the growing humanitarian crisis in Libya as more than 200 000 are estimated to be trying to flee the violence in the country.

Acting on the calls of Italian and Maltese MEPs, the EP resolution urges for the application of a solidarity and burden sharing principle with respect to border control as the southern EU member states are facing an influx of refugees.

The EP recommends restrictive measures with respect to the assets owned and managed by the Gaddafi regime as well as an emphasis on a more efficient and ambitious EU neighborhood policy.

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