News Archive
Libya freezes entry to Europeans – except Brits
Released on 18/02/2010
In the midst of a massive building boom Libya has stopped issuing entry visas to Europeans, apart from British nationals.
The move is thought to have come in retaliation for Switzerland’s recent decision to ban 180 Libyans from entering the country, including Colonel Gaddafi. Switzerland and Libya have been locked in diplomatic conflict since Gaddafi’s son Hannibal was arrested and charged with assaulting two of his servants while staying in a Swiss hotel in July 2008. The charges were later dropped.
The ban is understood to apply to Europeans from the 25 countries in the Schengen border-free zone, which includes Switzerland.
Reuters reported on 15th February that an official at the country’s main international airport said of the reported visa ban: “This is right. This decision has been taken. No visas for Europeans, except Britain.”
Reuters said no explanation was given for the suspension, and there was no immediate confirmation from the Libyan government.
The European Commission condemned the decision. The commission says it “deplores the unilateral and disproportionate” Libyan decision and the nations affected will consider an “appropriate reaction”.
Italian construction firms will be hardest hit. Italy is Libya’s biggest trading partner. Last March Italy agreed to donate US$200m per year for 25 years in the form of infrastructure investment, with Italian companies expected to win much of the work.
A spokesman for the Italian foreign ministry told Reuters: “Contacts are under way between the countries of the zone to coordinate over this measure.”
Reuters reported that Libya’s Oea newspaper, which has close ties to a son of Colonel Gaddafi, earlier reported that Libya would stop issuing visas to citizens of countries in the Schengen area.
