Council establishes EU naval operation to disrupt human smugglers in the Mediterranean

Publisher
Series Title
Series Details PRES/15/301
Publication Date 18/05/2015
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Summary:

Establishment of the Operation EUNAVFOR MED, the European Union's military mission aimed at disrupting the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the Southern Central Mediterranean.

Further information:

The Council of the European Union decided to establish the EUNAVOR MED on 18 May 2015. This decision enabled the formal start of the operational planning for the naval operation and it became part of the comprehensive response provided by the European Union (EU) to the migration crisis affecting the continent.

EUNAVFOR MED was set up to be conducted in sequential phases and in accordance with the requirements of international law. Firstly, planning of the operation and the initial phase of surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Southern Central Mediterranean. The second and third phases of the operation would work to search, seize and disrupt the assets of smugglers, based on international law and in partnership with Libyan authorities.

The Operation was launched on 22 June 2015, and the second phase of the Operation was given the go-ahead on 14 September, with its launch on 7 October. The United Nations (UN) Security Council passed a resolution on the 9 October 2015 allowing EU naval forces to intercept and seize vessels smuggling refugees on high seas, also known as Resolution 2240 (2015).

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/05/18-council-establishes-naval-operations-disrupt-human-smugglers-mediterannean/
Related Links
Official
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 22/06/2015: Council launches EU naval operation to disrupt human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/06/22/fac-naval-operation/
EU EEAS: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the Council decision to launch the naval operation EUNAVFOR Med, 22 June 2015 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/6343
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 14/09/2015: EUNAVFOR Med: Council adopts a positive assessment on the conditions to move to the first step of phase 2 on the high seas https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/09/14/eunavfor-med-council-adopts-positive-assessment-on-conditions-to-move-to-first-step-of-phase-2-on-high-seas/
Council of the European Union: Press Release, 28/09/2015: EUNAVFOR Med: EU agrees to start the active phase of the operation against human smugglers and to rename it 'Operation Sophia' https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/09/28/eunavfor/
UN Security Council: Resolution 2240 (2015), 9 October 2015 https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2240%282015%29

News
BBC News, 18/05/2015: EU backs migrant crisis naval force http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32787342
Deutsche Welle, 18/05/20155: EU defense, foreign ministers approve military mission targeting smuggler boats http://dw.de/p/1FRcd
EUObserver, 18/05/2015: EU countries agree boat-sinking operation https://euobserver.com/foreign/128743
Politico, 18/05/2015: EU approves military force against smugglers http://www.politico.eu/article/libya-traffickers-migrants-mogherini-uno/
The New York Times, 18/05/2015: E.U. Agrees to Naval Intervention on Migrant Smugglers http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/world/europe/european-union-human-trafficking-military.html
Euronews, 18/05/2015: EU agrees to people smuggling crackdown in Libya http://www.euronews.com/2015/05/18/eu-agrees-to-people-smuggling-crackdown-in-libya/
EUObserver, 19/05/2015: Libya says EU boat-sinking operation 'not humane' https://euobserver.com/justice/128754
EurActiv, 19/05/2015: EU ministers back Mediterranean naval mission, reject migrant quotas https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-ministers-back-mediterranean-naval-mission-reject-migrant-quotas/
EUObserver, 26/05/2015: Boat-sinking operation poses 'risk' to EU image https://euobserver.com/justice/128823
EurActiv, 22/06/2015: EU foreign ministers to agree on Mediterranean intelligence operations https://www.euractiv.com/section/migrations/news/eu-foreign-ministers-to-agree-on-mediterranean-intelligence-operations/
EurActiv, 22/06/2015: Mogherini announces launch of naval operation https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/mogherini-announces-launch-of-naval-operation/
EUObserver, 22/06/2015: EU still angling for UN permit on migrant operation https://euobserver.com/justice/129220
Sputnik International, 22/06/2015: EU Starts Operations Against Immigrant Smugglers https://sptnkne.ws/2KyA
Sputnik International, 14/09/2015: EU Ministers Approve Military Action on the Mediterranean https://sptnkne.ws/zaVC
EUObserver, 14/09/2015: EU to expand Mediterranean anti-smuggler force https://euobserver.com/justice/130258
RFI News, 15/09/2015: France to deploy frigate against Mediterranean people smugglers http://en.rfi.fr/africa/20150915-france-deploy-frigate-against-med-people-smugglers
EUObserver, 25/09/2015: EU navies to start capturing smugglers from 7 October https://euobserver.com/justice/130422
EurActiv, 07/10/2015: EU starts military operation against ‘mafia of the sea’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-starts-military-operation-against-mafia-of-the-sea/
Deutsche Welle, 07/10/2015: EU anti-smuggler mission 'Sophia' starts patrols http://dw.com/p/1GjjC
Deutsche Welle, 09/10/2015: UN Security Council approves EU anti-trafficking mission http://dw.com/p/1Gly8
EUObserver, 12/12/2015: EU naval operation Sophia saved 5,700 lives https://euobserver.com/migration/131345

Commentary and Analysis
Euro|topics: May 2015: EU to launch naval mission against smugglers https://www.eurotopics.net/en/150604/
EPRS: At a Glance, June 2015: EU mounts new maritime operation to tackle Mediterranean people traffickers http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2015)559489

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