Brussels, 19/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The EU's foreign ministers could decide to launch the naval EUNAVFOR Med operation on Monday 22 June when they meet in Luxembourg.
If this operation is launched - which aims to destroy the business model of human traffickers in the Mediterranean - it will only involve the first stage of the operation, consisting of the search for, and gathering of, information and intelligence on the boats used by the traffickers or on the traffickers themselves. Patrols are then expected to be set up swiftly in international waters.
The process aiming to bring together the necessary capacity (ship, reconnaissance planes, drones) in the member states was still under way on Friday 19 June. The plan of operation and rules of engagement were newly approved by the Political and Security Committee (COPS) on Friday.
According to a senior European official, if the ministers decide to launch this operation, “about a week will be needed for the ships to be deployed in the Mediterranean”. The member states could then decide to launch the second phase gradually - consisting of boarding the traffickers' boats, apprehending them and turning them back to the high seas, provided that they are without flag or that the flag state gives its agreement.
In order to enter fully into this second phase (in other words to be able to intervene in Libyan territorial waters) and the third phase - which consists of “neutralising” the boats - a United Nations Security Council resolution and/or an agreement from the Libyans will be needed.
The EU currently has neither of these. The Security Council will only look into such a resolution once the Libyan authorities have given their agreement for such an operation - because Russia and China would like such Libyan approval ahead of supporting a resolution. On the Libyan side, the internationally recognised government of Tobruk would reportedly like to wait for the formation of a national unity government to give its agreement, according to the senior European official.
In the view of another European source, there are hopes of the launch of the last two phases before September.
Extending the sanctions against Russia and lunch with Ban Ki-moon. Over lunch, the EU foreign ministers will talk to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about EU-UN cooperation and the current crises in Syria, Libya and Yemen.
After the political agreement at ambassador level on 17 June (see EUROPE 11337), the ministers are expected - without debate - to extend the restrictive measures against Russia until 31 January 2016.
The foreign ministers will discuss the political situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). This will also be discussed by European affairs ministers the following day and conclusions are expected to be adopted.
With European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic also attending, Monday's Council will discuss energy diplomacy and will exchange points of view on an action plan with concrete foreign policy measures to support implementation of the Energy Union.
The Council will also hold a debate on relations between the EU and Asia - particularly as regards how to step up engagement with Asia, and especially the ASEAN, and how to capitalise on the strategic partnership with China. The ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on Burma/Myanmar and to take account of the conclusions that review the European strategy for Central Asia.
The ministers could also adopt conclusions on Lebanon in order to call, once again, on the political forces there to elect a new president. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will also inform the ministers about her visit to the Middle East. A more in-depth debate is due to take place at the Council of 20 July. Conclusions on Burundi are also expected.
The Council will be followed by an accession conference with Montenegro and by an EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council which will review the progress made. The conference could furthermore open new negotiation chapters - Chapter 9 on financial services, and Chapter 21 on trans-European networks. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)