Libya, EU sign MoU for development of judicial cooperation

TRIPOLI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Ministry of Justice on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European Union mission in Libya for the development of prisons and criminal justice.

The Minister of Justice, Mohamed Abdel-Wahed, signed the MoU at the ministry's headquarters here with the Head of EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya, Vincenzo Tagliaferri, and EU Ambassador to Libya, Bettina Muscheidt.

Under the MoU, the EU mission will "provide technical and logistical programs that work with the penal institutions of the judicial system," Abdel-Wahed said.

"Institutional support will be provided in the field of judicial expertise and prison management and health care, in addition to developing the curricula of legal institutes to establish a state of institutions and the rule of law," Abdel-Wahed added.

The MoU aims to develop the criminal justice system by harmonizing national legislation with international conventions and by helping to build the capacity of judicial and police personnel through specialized training courses and visits of European experts.

In May 2013, EU mission launched its special mission EUBAM Libya for integrated border management, in addition to liaison with the Libyan authorities concerned in security and judicial reform.

However, the mission faced difficulties working from within Libya. The mission is currently based in the Tunisian capital Tunis temporarily. Enditem