EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia: mandate extended until 30 September 2019

Summary:

The Council of the European Union decided on 29 March 2019 to extend the mandate of EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia until 30 September 2019.

Further information:

However, the Operation Commander was instructed to suspend temporarily the deployment of naval assets for the duration of this extension. Member States vowed to find a solution on disembarkation as part of the follow-up to conclusions adopted by the European Council.

EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia was launched on 22 June 2015. The operation's core mandate is to contribute to the European Union's work to disrupt the business model of migrant smugglers and human traffickers in the Southern Central Mediterranean.

News

Deutsche Welle, 23/01/2019: Germany pulls out of Mediterranean migrant mission Sophia https://p.dw.com/p/3C02T

The Local (Italy), 29/01/2019: 'Up to Italy' to decide whether to end EU anti-trafficking operation in the Med https://www.thelocal.it/20190123/italy-operation-sophia-eu-anti-trafficking-migrants-mediterranean-libya

Reuters, 07/03/2019: Germany wants to keep EU naval mission, heads for standoff with Italy https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1QO274

Politico, 26/03/2019: EU diplomats tentatively agree to extend Operation Sophia https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-migration-refugees-diplomats-agree-to-extend-operation-sophia/

Reuters, 26/03/2019: EU weighs up awkward migration compromise on Mediterranean mission https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1R717E

Politico, 27/03/2019: EU extends Mediterranean migrant mission, without ships https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-extends-mediterranean-migrant-mission-without-ships/

EurActiv, 27/03/2019: EU to end ship patrols in scaled down Operation Sophia https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-to-end-ship-patrols-in-scaled-down-operation-sophia/

Euronews, 27/03/2019: Operation Sophia: EU to scale back Mediterranean rescue mission https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/27/operation-sophia-eu-to-scale-back-mediterranean-rescue-mission

The Local (Italy), 27/03/2019: EU suspends migrant rescue patrols in Med after opposition from Italy https://www.thelocal.it/20190327/eu-suspends-operation-sophia-migrant-rescue-patrols-mediterranean-italy

France24, 28/03/2019: EU countries recall ships from migrant rescue mission in Mediterranean https://www.france24.com/en/video/20190328-eu-countries-recall-ships-migrant-rescue-mission-mediterranean

EurActiv, 28/03/2019: Rights groups lambast Operation Sophia – the EU naval mission without ships https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/rights-groups-lambast-operation-sophia-the-eu-naval-mission-without-ships/

ANSAmed, 29/03/2019: EU approves Operation Sophia extension, recalls ships http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2019/03/29/eu-approves-operation-sophia-extension-recalls-ships_edcb3b28-e444-4e2d-a34b-41ee6283253f.html

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico, 12/03/2019: Salvini’s Sophia soapbox https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-matteo-salvini-sophia-soapbox/

LSE: EUROPP Institute: Blog, 12/03/2019: Beyond Operation Sophia: What role for the military in migration policy? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2019/03/12/beyond-operation-sophia-what-role-for-the-military-in-migration-policy/

Amnesty International: News, 27/03/2019: EU: Diminished 'Operation Sophia' abandons refugees and migrants to reckless Libyan Coast Guard https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/03/eu-diminished-operation-sophia-abandons-refugees-and-migrants-to-reckless-libyan-coast-guard/

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