Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya

Italy called for a UN military mission to Libya after a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts by the IS terrorist militia surfaced on the Internet on the 15 February 2015.

However, The Local.it reported Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as ruling out military intervention in Libya in the short-term after holding talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the 16 February 2015.

Euro|Topics highlighted articles in some European newspapers suggesting that there was no alternative to intervention now that the IS had moved so close to Europe, but also warning at the same time that Libya must also receive help in constructing state structures.

The Local.it reported that addressing the Italian parliament on the 18 February 2015, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni outlined Italy's readiness to play a leading role in de-arming and rebuilding its former colony in the event of a UN-brokered cease-fire.

Italy saw the chaos in Libya as driving the accelerating flux of African migrants trying to reach Italy.

• Primary Source

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 17.02.15: Rome pushes for military strike in Libya http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER158514-Rome-pushes-for-military-strike-in-Libya

ESO: Background information: Italy and Malta rescue more than 2,000 migrants off Libyan coast http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-and-malta-rescue-more-than-2000-migrants-off-libyan-coast/

EU: EEAS: Press Release, 16.02.15: Meeting between the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya, Bernardino León in Madrid http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150217_01_en.htm

EU: EEAS: EU Relations with Libya http://eeas.europa.eu/libya/index_en.htm

The Local.it, 16.02.15: 'No military intervention in Libya': Renzi http://www.thelocal.it/20150216/no-military-intervention-in-libya-renzi

EurActiv, 17.02.15: Mogherini: EU's development policy is not charity http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/mogherini-eus-development-policy-not-charity-312188

The Local.it, 18.02.15: Italy: Isis could merge with Libya militias http://www.thelocal.it/20150218/italy-says-evident-risk-of-isis-merging-with-libyan-militias

Corriere del Ticino, 19.02.15: IS in Libya can overrun a weak Europe (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE158637-IS-in-Libya-can-overrun-a-weak-Europe

Reuters, 19.02.15: France demands more EU backing for fighting militants in Africa http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/19/uk-libya-security-france-idUKKBN0LN1BV20150219

Blog: ECFR, 19.02.15: Will the West and Egypt intervene in Libya's civil war? http://www.ecfr.eu/article/will_the_west_egypt_intervene_in_libyas_civil_war

Spiegel Online International, 23.02.15: A Threat to Europe: The Islamic State's Dangerous Gains in Libya http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/islamic-state-advance-in-libya-could-present-threat-to-europe-a-1019976.html

The Malta Independent, 23.02.15: Malta must remain neutral on Libya (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE158851-Malta-must-remain-neutral-on-Libya

The Guardian, 24.02.15: Only diplomacy can bring peace to Libya (via Euro|Topis) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE158937-Only-diplomacy-can-bring-peace-to-Libya

International Crisis Group: Report: Middle East and North Africa Report N°157, February 2015 http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/middle-east-north-africa/north-africa/libya/157-libya-getting-geneva-right.aspx

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