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The recent meeting in Tripoli between institutional and business representatives brought Libya-Europe fish exports back into the spotlight, a dossier that intertwines economic cooperation and diplomacy in the Mediterranean.
The discussion table
Participants included Italy’s ambassador to Libya Gianluca Alberini, Libya’s Minister of Marine Resources Adel Sultan, Fabio Giudice, commercial officer of the Italian diplomatic mission, and Mazara-based entrepreneur Nicola Giacalone, director of Medina and owner of the Rosso di Mazara brand.
The Libyan ministry explained that the talks focused on training programs, professional qualification, and support for fish processing centers in line with national legislation and international standards. The goal: to facilitate access of Libyan seafood products to European markets.
The business perspective
For Nicola Giacalone, the critical point is traceability. Libya’s marine reserves, described as “vast and almost untouched,” cannot consistently enter Europe without a system monitoring the entire supply chain. He recalled how the joint venture model, already launched by Medina in Tunisia in the 1990s, could successfully be replicated in Libya.
The regulatory hurdle
Nicola Colicchi, president of the Italy-Libya Chamber of Commerce, stressed the need for political action to adapt EU regulations. While acknowledging the lack of infrastructure and delays in meeting international standards, Colicchi highlighted that the ongoing dialogue tables may create conditions for tangible progress.
Opportunities and challenges
According to FAO, Libya’s fish resources remain largely unexplored, while low domestic consumption leaves room for export. Yet obstacles remain: insufficient preservation facilities, historical tensions between Italian fleets and Libyan authorities, and maritime disputes weighing on the political climate.
Despite these challenges, the prospect of an agreement on Libya-Europe fish exports represents a strategic opportunity for both countries: for Italy, to strengthen its role as a Mediterranean partner; for Libya, to begin unlocking a long-overlooked marine heritage.
Source: Agenzia Nova
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