EU considers partial lifting of Libya sanctions

The European Union is considering partially lifting sanctions against Libya and was moving toward easing its arms embargo against the country.

A day after the US lifted a ban on commercial air flights to Libya and released frozen funds, EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin said ambassadors would meet later this week to decide on implementing last year’s UN decision to lift 11-year-old sanctions against Tripoli.

She said the 25 envoys also were looking at an Italian request to ease a 1986 arms embargo to allow Libya to buy high-tech equipment to prevent the flow of illegal African migrants through Libya and into Europe.

“Discussions are under way,” Udwin said in Brussels.