In a surprising and unprecedented diplomatic incident, Libyan authorities in Benghazi declared a European delegation—comprising EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner and the migration ministers of Greece, Italy, and Malta—persona non grata, ordering their immediate expulsion upon arrival at Benina International Airport.
According to officials aligned with the eastern-based Libyan military leadership under General Khalifa Haftar, the delegation failed to follow the established protocols for the entry, movement, and accommodation of foreign diplomats. The Libyan side claimed that these procedures are clearly outlined in a recent government directive and had not been observed.
Despite the abrupt expulsion, Commissioner Brunner made no mention of the incident in his public remarks. Instead, he focused on the delegation’s earlier visit to Tripoli, the seat of Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Unity. In a statement, Brunner noted that the team had held “in-depth discussions” with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and several senior ministers. The talks reportedly centered on tackling irregular migration and human trafficking, with both sides expressing willingness to deepen cooperation on these issues. Planned meetings in Benghazi, however, were ultimately cancelled due to the expulsion.
The migration minister is expected to brief Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a scheduled meeting at the Maximos Mansion. While originally planned to discuss the Libya trip, the recent developments are likely to prompt more urgent conversations about shaping a stricter national and EU-level migration strategy.
Reactions in Athens and Brussels
The Greek government, which had a representative on the mission—Minister of Migration and Asylum Athanasios Plevris—has been closely monitoring the situation. Sources in Athens emphasized that this was a Commission-led mission and not a bilateral initiative, suggesting that Greek officials are seeking to avoid bearing the diplomatic fallout alone.
Some analysts in Greece believe this development may provide Athens with new leverage to push for a tougher and more coordinated EU migration policy. With irregular migrant arrivals on the rise—particularly on the island of Crete—Greece has repeatedly argued that the migration issue is a European, not merely a national, concern.
Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis described the incident as “unprecedented” during a televised interview, adding that “room for maneuver has narrowed.” He confirmed that stricter, more effective measures are under consideration. Marinakis interpreted Haftar’s move as a response to increasing international pressure on him to curb migration flows.
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis also weighed in, calling Libya’s political landscape “chaotic,” given that two rival factions claim legitimacy. He emphasized the EU’s efforts to find common ground with its southern neighbors on migration and urged Libyan actors not to disregard the European Union’s influence. “Any economic support to Libya will inevitably involve Greece,” he added pointedly.
Diplomatic Fallout and Domestic Debate
The diplomatic expulsion has also stirred political controversy in Greece. The leader of the main opposition party, SYRIZA, labeled the incident both “unprecedented and unacceptable,” but also a “diplomatic fiasco” for both the European Union and the Greek government. He criticized Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for having previously touted strong ties with Haftar’s faction—ties that now appear to be in question.
SYRIZA’s leader pointed to a broader pattern of troubling developments, including Benghazi’s possible recognition of a contentious maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey, as well as recent Libyan-Turkish deals on energy exploration—issues that have heightened tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
In a sharper rebuke, SYRIZA’s Stefanos Kasselakis criticized the government’s handling of foreign policy, writing that “within two days, the so-called ‘positive steps’ became a forced repatriation of the Greek migration minister,” calling for the resignation of government officials.
