EU/LIBYA : LIBYAN CRISIS: EUROPEAN COUNCIL TO MEET ON 11 MARCH.

• Position: European Neighbourhood Policy - Conference news

The European Union's heads of state and government will meet for an extraordinary Council, on 11 March, to agree a "common strategy" to cope with the alarming Libyan crisis, as Colonel Moammar Gaddafi clings to power. Requested by France and supported by the United Kingdom, this summit comes in the wake of the European Union's adoption of sanctions against the Libyan regime, on 28 February (see Europolitics 4151).

The 27 leaders are also set to discuss migratory threats that could potentially result from massive inflows of refugees from Libya.

"What can be done has already been done and we have discussed all the scenarios, even if the people are not there yet," said the Commissioner with responsibility for Immigration and Security, Cecilia Malmstrom, at a hearing at the European Parliament, on 1 March in Brussels. "We are following very closely the uprisings in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Yemen in order to adopt measures if need be," added Pierre Vimont, who seconds High Representative Catherine Ashton.

The Commissioner for Enlargement and the European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule, also said he has reviewed the possibility of seeing "large migratory flows from Tunisia, Libya and to a lesser extent Egypt," on 28 February, before the EP's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). "We know that the forces for change that have been unleashed will not set up stable political systems overnight." However, "we must address these risks without losing sight of our common long-term objective: a peaceful, prosperous, stable and democratic North Africa".

In any case, those fleeing Libya (whose status will have to be confirmed) "will not be turned back" by the EU, repeated Malmstrom.

She nevertheless acknowledged that EU member states disagree on the principle of sharing new arrivals, as demanded by Italy at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, on 24 February.

The EU is therefore becoming more active. Italy had accused the...