EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando said the legal procedures for establishing the center had been completed, with funding provided by Italy and Malta.
The facility is intended to enhance Libya's capacity to coordinate maritime rescue missions on one of Europe's busiest migration corridors.
However, the initiative has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that expanding Libya's maritime capabilities could result in more migrant boats being intercepted and returned to Libya.
The United Nations and international rights groups have repeatedly documented cases of arbitrary detention and abuse involving migrants and refugees returned to the country.
