According to sources cited by Agenzia Nova, Dabaiba hosted the ambassadors of the EU, Italy, Greece, and Malta to express his disapproval of planned visits to Benghazi. A previous EU delegation had already faced rejection at Benina Airport, where they were received by ministers from the eastern-based government rather than General Khalifa Haftar himself.

Tripoli views these encounters as indirect endorsements of the parallel authority led by Osama Hammad, which holds sway over the eastern region of Cyrenaica but lacks international recognition. A recent visit by the UK’s Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer was also canceled after Haftar demanded he meet representatives of Hammad’s cabinet—an ultimatum London refused.

Migration At The Center Of Libya-EU Tensions

Despite the political standoff, Brussels remains eager to resume its mission to maintain dialogue over key issues, particularly irregular migration. EU officials argue that engaging all sides is essential given the migratory flows from both western and eastern Libya.

According to official figures, more than 33,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in the first half of 2025. Of these, nearly 90%—over 29,600 people—departed from western Libya under Dabaiba’s control, while around 1,000 left from eastern shores. Additionally, 9,500 migrants reportedly reached Greek islands such as Crete and Gavdos via eastern routes.

Dabaiba’s government insists that any EU mission involving the Benghazi-based cabinet undermines the legitimacy of Libya’s UN-backed institutions. Tripoli has signaled it will resist any form of diplomatic ambiguity that could embolden the eastern government.