EU ministers take steps towards EU-Libya co-operation agreement

[tolibya]

LIBYA. During the first day of a summit in Luxembourg on Monday, foreign ministers from the European Union approved the opening of discussions towards a co-operation agreement with Libya on trade, human rights and illegal migration.

Press reports quoted a written conclusion of the meeting as saying: "As soon as possible, the EU and Libya should open discussions on an EU-Libya framework agreement which will include areas of mutual interest."

The summit also tasked the European Commission with presenting draft negotiation directives. The move reflects improved EU-Libyan relations two and a half months after the release of the Bulgarian medics accused of infecting children in a Benghazi hospital with HIV.

AFP quoted the EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner as telling reporters after the meeting that the negotiations "will not be easy" and that "there will be a lot of issues to discuss." The agreement is expected to spread to additional areas such as energy, tourism and archaeological sites.