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The Chairman of the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bengdara, met in Paris Thursday with the CEO of French oil company Total, Patrick Pouyann, and discussed TotalEnergies multi-energy strategy and activities in Libya, as well as the ongoing implementation of the strategic agreements signed with the Libyan authorities in November 2021 for the sustainable development of the countrys natural resources.

Total said on its website that Pouyann confirmed to Bengdara the full commitment of TotalEnergies to Libya, and expressed his willingness to launch new investments to increase Libyas oil production for supplying the world market as well as gas output for both the domestic and the European export markets.

Pouyann and Bengdara also discussed TotalEnergies willingness to strengthen its investments in Libyas renewable energy sector as the former stressed that TotalEnergies aims to help Libya in building a more sustainable future through an improved use of its natural resources, including solar energy, which will directly improve the accessibility of cleaner, more reliable and more affordable electricity to the Libyan people.

"The production following the 2021 agreement was 84,000 boe/d. This production came from the offshore Al Jurf field (TotalEnergies, 37.5%), the El Sharara onshore area (TotalEnergies, 15% on block ex-NC 115 and 12% on Block ex-NC 186) and the Waha fields (TotalEnergies, 20.41%, after the joint acquisition of Hess interest)." Total said.

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France's Total renews willingness to develop partnership with Libya in oil and gas fields - The Libya Observer

Godwin risked everything for a better life in Europe, but he was detained and ransomed in Libya by European Union-backed authorities accused of "extreme abuse" against captured migrants.

The 34-year-old Nigerian had paid 1,100 euros ($1,100) for a place on an overcrowded vessel from the Libyan port of Zawiya, heading for Italian shores via the world's deadliest migration route.

"It was night when I got on the boat, it was already dark. I didn't know (where we were going)," he said, giving only his first name."I just wanted to go to Europe and have a good life."

Those hopes were dashed when a Libyan patrol boat approached.

Godwin said he was so reluctant to avoid going back to Libya that he considered throwing himself into the sea.

But he was detained and dragged back to Libya, where he was only released after his family paid a 550 euro ransom.

His is far from the only case.

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said some 32,450 people had been intercepted by Libyan forces last year and "hauled back to arbitrary detention and abuse" in the war-ravaged country as European countries turned a blind eye.

HRW accused the EU's border agency Frontex of using a drone to provide information that "facilitates interceptions and returns to Libya ... (despite) overwhelming evidence of torture and exploitation of migrants and refugees".

The migrant-run @RefugeesinLibya Twitter account regularly posts images of refugees allegedly killed by Libyan forces or tortured to extort money from their families.

Refugees in the country are "tortured by European taxpayers' money, dehumanised and deprived in all forms," it said in a recent tweet.

That chimes with a report in October by United Nations experts, who said acts of "murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment (and) rape" against detained migrants in Libya may amount to crimes against humanity.

None of this has stopped the European Union funding and working closely with the Libyan coast guard to prevent migrants reaching northern Mediterranean shores.

The accusations against Europe are not limited to financial support.

Alarm Phone, a group running a hotline for migrants needing rescue, this month accused Malta of failing to launch operations to rescue migrants in danger, "despite their obligations to do so" under international law.

"Alarm Phone has witnessed this non-assistance policy in action innumerable times," it said, accusing Malta of "abandoning boats at risk of capsizing" within the island's search and rescue zone.

From the start of January until August 20, almost 13,000 migrants have been intercepted and dragged back to detention in Libya while trying to cross the Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Some have been detained, while others have been sent home or simply allowed to leave the overcrowded detention centres.

A further 918 were either dead or missing.

Libyan authorities deny reports that migrants are abused.

"The arrests are carried out according to the rules in place," a migration official said.

But many argue that the long years of lawlessness since a NATO-backed revolt toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 has left the country prey to armed groups and people traffickers.

"Human rights? There are no human rights in Libya," said Hussein, another migrant stuck in Tripoli.

The 26-year-old from Sudan said he had tried to reach Europe on an overnight boat crossing in 2017.

"The Libyan coast guard caught us and sent us back," he said.

He was detained for a day before managing to escape, he said.

He called on African countries to "look after their people" and discourage them from leaving, "instead of European countries funding Libya to stop migration".

But despite the risks, both Godwin and Hussein said they were saving money for a new effort to reach Europe.

They spoke to AFP while waiting on the roadside in the hope of picking up some work for the day -- for a pittance.

"Now I'm just in Libya, suffering, there is no work, no food to eat, nothing," said Godwin, wearing a paint-specked t-shirt and a grey beanie.

"I'm tired of living this kind of life I'm living here."

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Migrants face abuse in Libya after EU-backed interceptions - Times of Malta

The Libyan army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Gununu, has stated that the statements of warlord Haftar's spokesman, Ahmed Al-Mismari, are a direct threat to the capital, Tripoli, saying that Haftar will not return to Tripoli no matter with whom he forged alliances.

In press statements, Gununu clarified that they have always supported political and social solutions. He called on UNSMIL to send observers to Sirte, Al-Jafra and Brak Al-Shati to identify the identity of Syrian mercenaries and thousands of members of the Russian Wagner Group being transferred to and from these areas.

He also said that they are waiting for a UN investigation to reveal the crimes of genocide committed by warlord Haftar's militia against the people of Tarhuna .

Gununu said that Sirte, Al-Jufra, southern Libya and Al-Khadim base have today become centres for foreign mercenaries such as Wagner group from Russia, Syrians, and local criminal gangs accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, after they were expelled from Tripoli and Tarhuna, to turn into the most dangerous places for security and community peace in Libya.

Gununu explained that they do not trust the ability of Haftar's militias to expel more than 5,000 Wagner mercenaries and same number of mercenaries from Syria, Sudan and Chad, and they do not believe that they have the ability to make this request at a time when Wagner Company continues to establish camps, fortifications and digging trenches.

The Libyan army spokesman said that they are not confident of the success of any peace path in which the executioner and the victim are treated on equal bases.

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Gununu: Haftar will never enter Tripoli - The Libya Observer

The European Unionwill never recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday told theonline Summit of theCrimea Platform.

She said the annexation of Crimea in 2014marked the beginning of Putins deplorable attempt to deny Ukraine its freedom, and thatCrimea hassince then been used,not only as a Russian military base, but also as a testing ground for the brutal methods Russia is now applying across the other occupied parts of Ukraine.

We are deeply concerned about the human rights violations in the Crimean peninsula. The disappearances, the torture, the killings. The persecution of Crimean Tartars. The intimidation and incarceration of journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders,the European Commission President said, adding,the European Union will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Addressing the same meeting, European Council President Charles Michel saidRussia hadsince February been usingCrimea as a strategic springboard to invade other parts of Ukraine from the south and to attack Ukraine with indiscriminate missile strikes. Russia is also using the peninsula as a transit point to deport Ukrainian citizens to infamous filtration camps, where acts of torture and abuse have been reported, he added.

The EU is right by your side in these dramatic times, and we will stay there for as long as it takes. I call on all countries around the world to clearly condemn Russias illegal actions. Ukraines full territorial integrity, within its internationally recognised borders, must be restored. Crimea is Ukraine,said Michel.

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Ursula von der Leyen speech

Charles Michel speech

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EU will never recognise illegal annexation of Crimea - EU NEIGHBOURS east - euneighbourseast.eu

Six months on from the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, should Russians be barred from vacationing in the EU? Lawmakers from Germany's conservative opposition certainly think so. In an interview with German tabloid Bild on Monday, Andrea Lindholz, of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), called for Russians to stop receiving holiday visas.However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and members of his governing three-party coalitionhave so far rejected a universal ban on Russians tourists.

Some other EU governments have also been hesitant to back such a measure. The European Commission expects a visa ban would raise legal and humanitarian issues, especially for Russian dissidents.

Yet EU member states, primarily in the east, have nevertheless moved ahead and restricted visa access for Russians,and in some cases suspended short-term tourist visas. They are now urging other member states to follow suit and implement an EU-wide travel ban for Russian holidaymakers a request also made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian vacationers already face hurdles when visiting the bloc, as Russian aircraft are banned from entering EU airspaceand vice versa. Over the past six months, many have therefore traveled to nearby EU states like Finland, the Baltic states and Poland. Some EU states have already taken, or are currently contemplating, moves to end theseinflows of Russians.

Speaking to Estonian radio on Monday, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu reiterated that "we must dramatically raise the cost for these aggressions before winter." The Estonian lawmaker called for a total boycott of Russian energy imports, further sanctions against certain Russian individualsand an EU-wide travel ban for ordinary Russians.

Estonia has already ceased issuing visas and residency permits to Russian nationals. As of last week, Russians may only enter the country if they possess a valid visa and currently reside in the country, or have relatives living there.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) and Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu met in Kiyv earlier this month

Latvian authorities also favor an EU-wide ban on Russian tourists. Presently, Russians may only enter the country to attend the funeral of aclose relative.

Lithuania has largely stopped issuing visas to Russian nationals. Authorities support extending these restrictions to all EU states. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said this step is necessary because Russians can currently obtain a visa from any EU consulate and enter the bloc through member states bordering Russia.

Finland shares the longest land border with Russia out of all EU states. Russians arrive at it daily to get short-term EU visas. Finish authorities now want to limit the number of visas issued to tourists, even though Finnish law does not technically permit such a restriction, as Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto recently said.

Instead, Finland plans to shorten the opening hours of visa offices starting in September,to substantially reduce the number of travel permits issued. Conversely, Finland aims to make it easier for Russians to enter the country for important reasons, such as work or family gatherings.

Shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Czech authorities stopped issuing visas to Russian and then Belarusian nationals. The country also supportslooking into an EU-wide decision on the matter. As it currently holds the rotating presidencyofthe Council of the European Union,the Czech Republic has the prerogative to put the topic at the top of the agenda at the upcoming EU summit later this month.

Will Russians, seen here near St. Petersburg, still be able to enjoy the EU's beaches in the near future?

The Polish government also wants the entire bloc to suspend tourist visas for Russian visitors. Authorities are expected to move ahead with national regulations in the coming weeks.

Denmark intends to limit visas for Russian at thenational level, yet also favors a coordinatedEU-wide approach. Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek recently praised Estonia's suggestion for universal restrictions as "sensible." Presently, if just one EU state grants a Schengen visa to Russian visitors, theycan travel freely through the rest of bloc.

Dutch authorities stopped issuing short-term visas to Russians in April after Russia expelled several Dutch embassy workers. It nevertheless grants exceptions in urgent cases. Short-term visas can be obtained in case of "pressing humanitariangrounds." Long-term visas are excluded from the ban.

This article was originally published in German.

Correction, August 24, 2022: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name ofKaare Dybvad Bek. DW apologizes for the error.

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Will the EU pull the plug on tourist visas for Russians? - DW (English)