Council conclusions on EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia

Summary:

The Council of the European Union adopted on 23 May 2016 a set of conclusions relating to the operation of the EUNAVFOR MED 'Operation Sophia'.

Further information:

The Council underlined the need to enhance the capacity of Operation Sophia to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and trafficking networks and to contribute to broader security in support of the Libyan authorities. To that end, the Council agreed to extend the mandate of EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia by one year and, while retaining the focus on its core mandate, to add two further supporting tasks:

• capacity building and training of, and information sharing with, the Libyan Coastguard and Navy, based on a request by the legitimate Libyan authorities taking into account the need for Libyan ownership;
• contributing to information sharing, as well as implementation of the UN arms embargo on the High Seas off the coast of Libya on the basis of a new UNSC Resolution.

News

Deutsche Welle, 23/05/2016: EU looks to help Libya to aid in crackdown on human traffickers in the Mediterranean http://dw.com/p/1ItHZ

The Wall Street Journal, 23/05/2016: EU to Help Libya Fight Smugglers With Naval Mission http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-to-help-libya-fight-smugglers-with-naval-mission-1464020730

EurActiv, 24/05/2016: EU to train Libyan coast guard to fight refugee smuggling http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-to-train-libyan-coast-guard-to-fight-refugee-smuggling/

EUObserver, 24/05/2016: EU navies to help Libya coastguard stop migrants https://euobserver.com/migration/133523

EurActiv, 06/06/2016: EU seeks UN backing to enforce Libya arms embargo http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-seeks-un-backing-to-enforce-libya-arms-embargo/

EurActiv, 07/06/2016: UN mulls allowing EU to search boats for illicit arms off Libya http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/un-mulls-allowing-eu-to-search-boats-for-illicit-arms-off-libya/

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