EU starts lifting Libya sanctions

“EU member states today agreed to lift sanctions against Libyan ports, banks and oil companies.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, said the aim of the move was to provide the necessary financial resources to support an interim government and to help rebuild Libya's economy.

She said the decision was a “clear sign of the EU's determination to do its utmost to support the people of Libya and the interim authorities during the transition”.

Ashton said the EU would remain “a strong and committed partner” to Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), which has been leading the fight against Muammar Qaddafi's regime.”