The European union (EU) will continue to support post-Gaddafi Libya, the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Saturday as she paid an official visit to Tripoli to open the EU diplomatic mission.
Speaking at the Libyan Women's Rights Forum, Ashton said that the EU would continue to support civil society in Libya, especially “women and young people, who have a major role to play in shaping Libya's future."
She also opened the EU mission in Tripoli nine months after the protests urging Libyan late leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down began on February 15.
"Opening a fully-fledged EU delegation in Tripoli underlines the EU's commitment to our close relationship with the Libyan people, both during the political transition and in the long term," Ashton said.
Ashton's visit precedes Monday’s EU ministerial meeting that will consider measures to help Libya recover from the months-long conflict.
The EU is one of the biggest contributors of humanitarian aid to Libya. The bloc has donated 155 million euros ($213 mln) so far, according to EU diplomats.
