EU migration commissioner was denied entry to eastern Libya over 'protocol issue', EU spokesperson says

The European Union's migration commissioner was barred from entering eastern Libya because of a "protocol issue", an EU spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In addition to EU Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, ministers from Italy, Malta, and Greece were also denied entry.

"What happened in Benghazi was there was a protocol issue. This is why it was not possible to carry out the planned meetings," EU spokesperson Markus Lammert told the EU’s daily press briefing.

"The EU will maintain open channels of communication and we will continue working in a Team Europe approach with all actors involved."

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The delegation had arrived at Benghazi airport to attend a meeting with the parallel government of Osama Hamad, allied to military commander Khalifa Haftar who controls the east and large areas of southern Libya, shortly after meeting the internationally recognised government that controls the west of Libya.

The EU mission in the country centred around "the recent increase of irregular arrivals from Libya," Lammert said.

On Monday, the Hamad government warned that all foreign visitors and diplomats must get prior approval before entering or travelling within Libya.

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, Libya has been on a route for migrants heading to Europe. Factional conflict has divided the country since 2014.