La Politica estera dell'Unione europea verso la Libia

This doctoral dissertation examines the European Union’s (EU) foreign policy towards Libya from 2011 to 2024, a period marked by political instability, civil conflict, and the growing strategic importance of the Southern Mediterranean. Libya is presented as an emblematic case for assessing the EU’s role as an international actor, highlighting the interplay between declared principles—such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law—and concrete interests linked to migration management, energy security, and regional stability. The research adopts a multidisciplinary approach, combining theories of international relations (realism, liberalism, and constructivism) with qualitative and comparative methods, including the analysis of official EU documents, international agreements, and secondary literature. The structure of the thesis covers: the historical evolution of the EU and its institutions; EU–Libya relations before 2011; the Union’s response to the post-Gaddafi crisis through security missions and humanitarian initiatives; migration policies and border externalization; and recent dynamics (2020–2024) influenced by external actors such as Russia and Turkey. Findings reveal that the EU has achieved only partial success in Libya. While it has managed to reduce irregular migration flows and provide humanitarian assistance, it has failed to contribute to Libya’s long-term political stabilization. The Union’s actions have been more reactive than proactive, often undermined by internal divisions among Member States, particularly between Italy and France. This has weakened the EU’s credibility and effectiveness as a global actor. The dissertation concludes that the Libyan case underscores the structural limits of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). To strengthen its role in the Southern Mediterranean, the EU must enhance coherence among Member States, strike a balance between security concerns and human rights, and adopt a more integrated energy and geopolitical strategy