IP/07/1122

Brussels, 17 July 2007

Reaction of President Barroso and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on ruling of Libyan High Judicial Council

Reacting to the decision of the Libyan High Judicial Council to convert the death sentence of the Bulgarian Nurses and the Palestinian doctor into a prison term, Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said:

"The fact that the High Judicial Council did not uphold the death sentence is a first relief.

However, our objective is a solution which allows for the departure of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical personnel from Libya and their transfer to the EU as soon as possible.

We will now study the ruling and its implications with the Libyan authorities and others involved. But we do hope that this tragic and long-running case can be brought to a speedy solution."

For more information:

The EU's relations with Libya: http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/libya/intro/index.htm