The member state ambassadors on the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed on Friday 20 July to revise the mandate of the EUNAVFORMed Sophia operation within five weeks.
The ambassadors were locked for many hours in discussion on landing migrants/refugees picked up by vessels involved in the operation. The discussion was at the request of Italy which no longer wants to automatically be the country of landing (see EUROPE 12067).
“All member states indicated readiness to discuss the issue Italy raised in the context of an accelerated strategic review as proposed by the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (see EUROPE 12063). The aim is to conclude the discussion within five weeks, on the basis of the indications of the June European Council Conclusions”, said an EU spokesperson (see EUROPE 12051). “There is a shared understanding of a strong and collective commitment to operation Sophia from all member states”, the spokesperson added.
In the meantime, current rules will continue to apply, several European sources have told EUROPE.
In the face of the uncertainty over landing, Commander Enrico Credendino ordered all vessels involved to withdraw from the area of operations and return to port. “taking into account the PSC conclusion on 20 of July stating that the operation plan continues to apply and EUNAVFORMED Op Sophia will continue to implement its mandate in its entirety,” Commander Credendino “is running the operation accordingly”, an operation spokesperson told EUROPE on 23 July.
“The operation continues to fulfil its mandate in all aspects”, confirmed European External Action Service spokesperson Maja Kocijancic. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)