A Reuters report published on 23 June 2026 quotes Amnesty International accusing the European Union and its member states, Italy among them, of enabling a month-long wave of mass arrests, forced evictions and expulsions of migrants in both eastern and western Libya. Amnesty’s deputy MENA director Diana Elahawy said continued funding and training of the Libyan Coast Guard – to which Italy contributes vessels, maintenance and operational support – has made the EU “complicit in horrific violations”. The NGO warns that cooperation is now being extended to eastern-based armed groups with documented war-crime records, heightening risks for migrants who eventually attempt the Central Mediterranean crossing to Italian shores. The allegation lands as Rome negotiates bilateral ‘migration management’ deals with Benghazi authorities and finalises rules for its proposed offshore screening centres. Critics argue that such agreements may breach the non-refoulement principle and expose asylum-seekers to abuse before they ever reach Italian jurisdiction. For companies moving staff to Libya’s energy and construction sectors, the report foreshadows tighter Italian and EU export-control scrutiny on equipment destined for Libyan coast-guard units and potential travel-security advisories affecting rotation schedules. Employers should monitor Rome’s response, as new parliamentary motions could restrict funding transfers or impose human-rights due-diligence requirements on contractors.
Source: Internazionale / Reuters
