Tripoli based Minister of Transport, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, received Nicola Ornaldo, the European Union Ambassador to Tripoli, at the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority’s Tripoli headquarters yesterday.
The two sides discussed the latest developments in communication between the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority and the European Commission's Aviation Safety Agency in Brussels, and ways to expedite the resolution of outstanding issues between them.
The Transport Ministry reported that the EU Ambassador to Tripoli expressed his appreciation for the significant steps taken in this regard and his understanding of the importance of resolving the issue of lifting the air embargo as soon as possible. He also affirmed the mission's commitment to providing all possible support to enable the Libyan side to fulfil the European Commission's requirements in this matter.
For his part, the Minister explained the main components of the Civil Aviation Sector Development Programme and the preparation, implementation, and evaluation phases the sector has undergone since the formation of the Government of National Unity. He noted the resulting resumption of air traffic to Libyan airspace and airports and referred to reports from international organizations and governmental bodies that confirmed Libya's compliance with international standards, regulations, and rules in the field of civil aviation. He emphasized that this must be considered when the European Commission evaluates the Libyan file.
The EU Ambassador received a comprehensive briefing on the operational mechanism of the digital transformation system in civil aviation management, highlighting its high level of efficiency and speed.
The Ministry reported that the Ambassador pledged to exert every effort to facilitate communication with the European Commission and create the necessary conditions for the Commission to expedite the review of the Libyan file.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Orlando posted on his X account ‘‘Productive meeting this morning in Tripoli with H.E. Minister of Transport Mr. Mohamed Salem Al Shahoubi and the Chairman of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, Dr Mohamed Abdulsalam Shlebek.
We reviewed the progress achieved so far and agreed on an action plan to accelerate Libya’s removal from the EU Air Safety List.
I was particularly impressed by the new Integrated Oversight Centre, which stands out as a model of effective digitalisation and modern management for the civil aviation sector.’’