The administration of Khalifa Haftar, which rules much of eastern Libya, expelled the representatives of the European delegation, including the Greek Minister of Migration, Thanos Plevris, from eastern Libya on Tuesday. The Haftar-led administration cited alleged abuses by the interior ministers of Italy, Greece, Malta, and the EU Commissioner for Migration as the reason for the expulsion.
The decision is thought to have been influenced by the European delegation’s initial visit to Tripoli, where the UN-recognized government is based. The ministers were stranded at Benghazi airport, but the planes scheduled to transport them departed shortly before 6 PM, preventing the visit and scheduled meetings from taking place.
The Greek government has made various attempts to improve relations with Libya, such as through the recent visit to Benghazi by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, during which he met with General Khalifa Haftar. Following this meeting, the foreign minister was scheduled to visit the Libyan capital on Tuesday, July 15.
Benghazi government announcement
The Benghazi administration announced that it was canceling the visit. The statement accused the three ministers and the European Commissioner of blatantly violating diplomatic principles, emphasizing that “the procedures governing the entry and stay of diplomats and foreigners, as set out in the decisions of the Libyan government, were not followed.”
Libya's eastern-based Hammad executive in #Libya announces in a statement that it dismissed the EU Commissioner for Migration, along with the Interior Ministers of Italy, Greece, and Malta, & cancelled their visit to Benghazi.
Hard to overstate the EU's embarassment here. pic.twitter.com/atSgRjBOn6
— Emadeddin Badi (@emad_badi) July 8, 2025
Libya’s government statement
The government statement pertaining to the removal of the European delegation from eastern Libya by Haftar was as follows:
PRESS STATEMENT
State of Libya – Libyan Government
Statement No. (19) of 2025 on the violations committed by the Ministers of the Interior of Italy, Greece, and Malta, as well as the European Union Commissioner for Migration.
This act constitutes a flagrant violation of diplomatic principles and international conventions. Their behavior represents a lack of respect for Libya’s national sovereignty and violates Libyan laws. The procedures governing the entry and stay of diplomats and foreigners were not followed.
Consequently, the planned visits of the Ministers of the Interior of Italy, Greece, and Malta, as well as the Commissioner for Migration, are canceled. The relevant parties have been informed that they must immediately leave Benghazi International Airport and Libyan territory, as they are persona non grata.
The Libyan government reiterates to all diplomats, as well as to members of international missions and organizations (whether governmental or non-governmental), the need to fully respect Libya’s national sovereignty.
This requires full compliance with Libyan laws, international treaties, and recognized procedures for organizing visits by delegations. There is also an obligation to cooperate with the Libyan government based on agreements, treaties, and international recognition.
Dr. Osama Saad Hamad,
Prime Minister of the Libyan Government
Issued in Benghazi, July 8, 2025
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