Title: Libya-France Agreement: A New Front in the Battle Against Financial Crimes and Technology-Driven Criminal Activities

On December 10, 2007, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the French Republic signed a landmark agreement to enhance cooperation in various security areas, with a strong focus on countering organized crime, financial violations, and technology-driven criminal activities. Here’s an overview of the agreement, including its provisions and main areas of cooperation.

Key Provisions of the Agreement

The signed agreements contain a wide range of cooperative efforts, covering the following fields:

1. Combating terrorism and organized crime
2. Fighting illegal migration and forgery
3. Securing seaports and airports
4. Performing technical and scientific policing
5. Enhancing civil protection, firefighting, and maritime rescue
6. Crisis management
7. Curbing the illicit trade of narcotics and psychotropic substances
8. Protecting air and sea transportation
9. Providing VIP protection
10. Demining
11. Combating economic and financial violations, primarily money laundering
12. Preventing human trafficking
13. Protecting cultural property and archaeological artifacts
14. Addressing fraud related to new information and communications technology
15. Combating cybercrime

Cooperation may extend to other related fields of internal security if both parties agree.

Information Exchange and Research

The agreement permits the sharing of sensitive information, as long as it complies with each nation’s national legislation and international obligations. Parties may reject requests for information that contradict their national legislation or adversely affect their sovereignty, human rights, or other interests. The agreement also establishes provisions for scientific research, exchanging expertise, and information sharing on criminal organizations and their methods.

Fighting Financial Crimes and Technology-Driven Criminal Activities

Specifically in the fight against financial crimes and technology-driven criminal activities, the agreement includes the following mandates:

1. Information exchange: Parties will share sensitive information related to money laundering operations’ methods and structures.
2. Research and analysis: Parties will exchange findings from research and analysis related to money laundering and the illegal trade of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
3. Procedures to identify and monitor: Parties will implement necessary procedures to identify and monitor the production, illegal transportation, and consumption of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
4. Combating cybercrime: Parties will exchange intelligence, research findings, and techniques to prevent and detect cybercrimes.

Education, Training, and Information Sharing

The agreement aims to improve cooperation through education, training, and information sharing. This will include the exchange of experts, professional information, and technical consultancy, in addition to the organization of periodic meetings and participation in conferences, forums, and symposiums.

Implementation and Duration

The agreement is set to be implemented through an annual cooperation program, with each party contributing within their budgetary limitations. It will enter into force upon the ratification of both parties and remain in effect for five years, renewable for similar periods. Either party may terminate the agreement three months after delivering a written notice.

Representatives at the Signing

The Libyan delegation was led by Abd al-Rahman Muhammad Shalqam, Chairman of the General People’s Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation, while the French side was headed by Michèle Alliot-Marie, Minister of Interior, Overseas Territories, and Local Communes.