Natalina Cea Appointed New Head of EU Mission to Libya

Natalina Cea was appointed on Thursday as the new Head of Mission of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya. She will take up her duties on February 1, 2021 succeeding Vincenzo Tagliaferri, who has been Head of Mission since  September 1, 2016.

Cea is an Italian civil servant who has worked at a senior level for more than 20 years. She worked as Director of the International Cooperation and Technical Assistance Office of the Italian Customs Administration.

She also held positions of leading missions, programs, and projects in the civilian security sector, particularly in the field of border management and related security and justice issues.

EUBAM Libya, a civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy, was launched on 22 May 2013. It is tasked with contributing to the Libyan authorities’ efforts to disrupt organized criminal networks involved in the smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, and terrorism.

The mission coordinates and implements projects with international partners in the fields of border management, law enforcement, and criminal justice.

The decision of appointing was taken by the EU Political and Security Committee.