The EU's naval operation in the central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med Sophia) is expected to begin training Libyan coastguard and naval officers by the end of September or the beginning of October, according to information received from a European source on Wednesday 31 August.
On 23 August, the EU and the Libyan authorities signed a memorandum of understanding on this training initiative (see EUROPE 11608) and on 30 August, member state representatives and the Political and Security Committee (PSC) gave their authorisation for this new task to begin (see EUROPE 11612). The source informed a group of journalists: "I believe that the training could begin at the end of September or beginning of October… The training will cover all the different coastguard functions."
The aim of the initiative seeks to provide Libyans with the capacity to patrol their own territorial waters and therefore arrest arms traffickers themselves, as well as save lives. More than 2,000 people died this year in, or close to, Libyan territorial waters because the country's coastguard does not have the necessary capacity required. Training will also focus on human rights and include the participation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Before the first 80 participants (all officers with at least two years service experience) can begin their training, they will need to have a background check. Once the Libyan authorities have sent the list of participants "in four or five days' time", vetting will begin, assisted by the European agencies such as Europol and Frontex. The training is expected to last "around 15 weeks" or until the end of the year. It will be organised on two of the operation's ships at sea. One of the ships is being provided by the Italian navy and the other by the Dutch. The Dutch parliament still needs to give its approval.
The second phase of the training is expected to take place at the beginning of December in EU member states. This phase is also being carried out at the same time as the first phase at sea and should subsequently help train more officers. According to the same source, Malta has already proposed to help in this connection and Italy is expected to do so in the next few days.
A third training phase is also planned. This will become operational by using Libyan ships and officers that have already participated in the two previous phases. It is expected to begin in March 2017. The source added: "I think some member states will provide more ships to the Libyan coastguard".
This source also believes that the Libyans would be able to carry out effective controls by next spring. The source said that it was hoped that approximately 1,000 Libyan offices would be trained and that the "training could be repeated" but that this would depend on an agreement with the member states.
Marseilles port to be used to divert boats transporting illegal weapons. In addition to coastguard training, the EU operation may now also begin to take part in ensuring respect for the arms embargo on Libya. Boats infringing the rules would be escorted to the French port of Marseilles, following contact with the UN Security Council Committee, which according to another European source is "the ultimate decision maker" in this area. Two ships, one of them French and the other British, will be taking part in this mission. Belgium is expected to deploy a third ship in October.
Although the operation therefore has two new missions, its main task will continue to be tackling the trafficking of human beings. Since the beginning of the operation in June 2015, 87 traffickers have been arrested, 288 boats have been neutralised and almost 25,000 people, including 1,200 children, have been saved. Five ships are currently involved in the operation, as well as three helicopters and three aeroplanes. There will be 1,200 people taking part in the operation and 24 member states participating in it. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)