Training and involving women to develop border management
LIBYA – Ana Soteras, the Spanish head of border management at the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM), has said that developing Libya’s border management requires listening to the needs of local institutions, building their capacity and working with them in practical ways, stressing the role women’s participation plays in improving security work and protecting those most at risk.
Soteras, who is also a chief inspector in the Spanish National Police, made the remarks in an interview published by the mission’s media team under the title “Building security together: from Spain to Libya”, the main points of which were followed and summarised by Al-Marsad.
Listening first, before offering advice
Asked about her professional and personal goals during her time with the mission, Soteras said experience had taught her that sustainable change cannot be imported, but begins with understanding how Libyan colleagues work, the challenges they face and where European expertise can offer practical help.
She added that she sought to listen, understand the local context and provide tangible support, and that her professional goal was to help strengthen Libya’s border management structures, drawing on her long experience in operational and training roles with the Spanish National Police while learning from colleagues of diverse backgrounds and deepening her understanding of international cooperation.
Daily work spanning reforms, training and coordination
She explained that her daily work ranged from discussing border management reforms with Libyan officials to preparing specialised training for investigators and coordinating with international partners, and that her role as head of the Border Management Unit was to bring these strands together.
She said the unit brought together European police officers, European customs experts and Libyan staff from a range of nationalities and professional backgrounds, which fostered a collaborative and flexible working environment and made it possible to advise senior officials, develop joint programmes and solve practical problems.
She added that this joint work strengthened Libya’s ability to manage its own borders and tackle organised crime, human trafficking and irregular migration, challenges that affect Libya, the European Union and regional stability. She also works to strengthen relations with the Libyan authorities, the EU Delegation to Libya, UN agencies and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
Involving women in border management and protecting victims
Soteras said women’s participation in border management improved communication, problem-solving and the handling of sensitive cases, particularly those involving victims of human trafficking, some of whom may feel more comfortable speaking to female officers.
She noted that the presence of women helped build trust and obtain information that is sometimes hard to reach, and could improve how security agencies deal with the community, identify the most vulnerable migrants and ensure that procedures comply with international standards.
She stressed that encouraging Libyan women to join the security sector was not enough on its own, and that training, opportunities for career progression and a safe, supportive working environment must also be provided, because enabling them to play a full role makes border management more balanced and effective.
Projects for border crossings in western Libya and trafficking investigations
She said EUBAM is a civilian crisis management mission whose mandate focuses on capacity building and on providing strategic and operational support to the Libyan institutions responsible for land, sea and air borders, through advice, training, mentoring and joint work.
She explained that the mission was working to strengthen the infrastructure and operational readiness of border crossing points in western Libya and to prepare training courses in areas requested by Libyan institutions, including the investigation of human trafficking crimes, as well as organising study visits to draw on European expertise in migration management, international cooperation and border policing.
Shared interests across the Mediterranean
Soteras added that, coming from Spain, she sees the Mediterranean as a link that unites the two countries in facing the challenges of migration, maritime security and the fight against organised crime, and that their cooperation is more like a joint effort between neighbours seeking to solve shared problems.
She stressed the importance of managing migration humanely and responsibly and of improving border governance, arguing that building trust, institutions and professional standards, together with training and operational support, forms the foundation of a partnership that benefits both Libya and the EU.
She concluded by stressing that trust, professionalism and partnership remain the foundations of effective border management, whatever form cooperation takes, whether training, capacity building or support on the ground.
