Major powers including the US discussed in Vienna on Monday the growing threat posed by the ISIL group in conflict-wracked Libya, just across the Mediterranean from Europe.

Major powers including the US discussed in Vienna on Monday the growing threat posed by the ISIL group in conflict-wracked Libya, just across the Mediterranean from Europe.

A recently formed unity government backed by the international community has been slowly asserting its authority in Tripoli, but it still faces a rival administration in the east.

In a bid to stabilize the country, the fledgling regime of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj has drawn up a list of requests for Western partners to assist its forces with arms, training and intelligence.

The Vienna conference, under way since 1215 GMT, is being co-chaired by the United States and Italy, Libya's former colonial ruler which has faced a major influx of migrants from the North African nation braving the perilous sea voyage.

A total of 25 top diplomats were in attendance, including the UN's special envoy to Libya Martin Kobler and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

"The key question is whether Libya remains a place where terrorism, people-smuggling and instability continue to flourish or whether we can regain statehood with the new unity government," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

"We have a lot to do," US State Secretary John Kerry told reporters before he held brief talks with Sarraj at Vienna's plush Bristol Hotel.