A European delegation of interior ministers attending a meeting on migration in Tripoli was also due to visit the East the same day, but upon arrival at Benina airport they were forced to leave Libya by the Government of National Stability (GNS).
On 8 July, after the Europeans had left Tripoli, GNS PM Osama Hammad issued a statement in English saying that the scheduled visit of the European MoIs and Brunner had been rescinded upon their arrival at Benina airport and were ‘duly informed of the imperative to deport Libyan territory forthwith and were declared persona non grata.’ Hammad said they had flagrantly contravened established diplomatic norms and international conventions ‘through actions that demonstrably disregard Libyan national sovereignty’, saying they had violated Libyan domestic laws and failed to adhere to the stipulated procedures governing the entry, movement and residency of foreign diplomatic personnel. In other words, Hammad wanted the delegation to liaise with and secure approval from the GNS for their visit, which would not have happened given the EU doesn’t recognise the GNS.
This comes after Hammad issued a circular on 6 July outlining procedures for entry and movement of members of diplomatic missions and international organizations (governmental and non-governmental), in accordance with Libyan legislation and relevant international conventions and treaties.