Mediterranean foreign ministers said Friday that European countries could take unspecified "measures" against parties in Libya who block a UN-backed unity government initiative for the war-torn nation. France, meanwhile, has said it would support economic sanctions for those who "knowingly" scupper Libya's political process. Libya has had rival parliaments and governments since 2014, after an Islamist-led militia alliance overran Tripoli and forced the internationally recognised administration to flee to the remote east of the oil-rich nation.
Extremists including the Islamic State group have exploited the chaos, raising fears of jihadists using the Libyan coast as a launchpad to infiltrate Europe and launch attacks. Foreign ministers from Mediterranean countries belonging to the so-called "Med Group" warned that the EU could take action against anyone blocking a unity government. "Measures could be taken against those held accountable as spoilers of such a solution," the ministers said in a joint statement after meeting in the Cypriot resort of Limassol, without elaborating. "A government of national accord would be a crucial partner in tackling effectively the threats and challenges to Libya, including terrorism, particularly considering the growing presence of (IS) and other extremist groups," they added.