Proposals from Civil Society to foster Peace and Stability in Libya

In May, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung EU Office will host a delegation from Libya for a closed dialogue programme. The group of young activists will meet with civil society organizations in Brussels as well as representatives from EU institutions and think tanks.

Seven years after the revolution, Libya faces several challenges on the way to democratization and stability. Political, security, economic and social problems make the transition to a stable, peaceful and democratic Libya difficult. The spread of weapons in the hands of militias, in addition to the negative impact of regional powers, makes Libya one of the biggest foreign policy challenges to the EU. A destabilized Libya has a direct impact on Europe, as it is one of the major transit countries for many thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa seeking to reach the EU. Under the old regime, independent civil society organizations were not allowed to play any political role, yet today they are very important in promoting peace and stability in Libya.

In light of the challenges facing the civilian population in general and civic activism in Libya in particular, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung aims to enable a constructive dialogue between the Libyan delegation and experts in Brussels.

Contact: Marco.Schwarz(at)fes-europe.eu