Brussels, 29/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 28 September, the EU ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee (PSC) decided to launch the first stage of the second phase of the EUNAVFOR Med naval operation on 7 October 2015 (see EUROPE 11397). The operation fights smugglers in the Mediterranean.
The ambassadors also approved the corresponding rules of engagement. The first stage of the second phase comprises boarding, searching, seizing and turning boats back at sea that are suspected of being used for smuggling or human trafficking. This second phase operates in line with international law. The suspected smugglers and traffickers will be handed over to the Italian judicial authorities.
At the proposal of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, the ambassadors also decided to rename the EUNAVFOR Med naval operation “Sophia”, after a baby girl born on one of the vessels in the operation (the Schleswig-Holstein) following a migrant-rescue operation on 22 August. This change of name enables “the life of the people we are rescuing to be honoured, as well as the life of the people that we want to protect, and it enables the message to be given to the world that the fight against trafficker and criminal networks is a means of protecting human life”, Mogherini stated at a press conference at the operation's headquarters on Thursday 24 September. The first phase of the operation (gathering information and intelligence) enabled 2,186 people to be saved between 27 July and 24 September, including 472 women, 114 children, and 4 babies. “This year, out of the 121,725 people who have attempted the journey (across the middle of the Mediterranean), 2,620 have thus far died”, Mogherini said, stating that this made a death rate of 2.2%.
Mogherini also stated that on 24 September, 22 member states were involved in the Sophia operation - Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. A total of 1,318 people worked for the operation in the first phase, and four ships were deployed. “Following our activities, 15 suspected smugglers and traffickers have been arrested by the Italian authorities and 15 boats have been seized”, Mogherini added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)