European Defence Ministers are expected to discuss the EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia on Thursday 31 January in Bucharest at their informal meeting.
While it is not officially on the agenda of the meeting, a European source explained to EUROPE that the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, wants to raise the subject.
The operation was extended at the end of December for three months, in order to give Member States time to find a solution to the issue of the disembarkation of people rescued by Sophia. These disembarkations currently take place in Italy, but the Italian government no longer wants this responsibility. Discussions still skating around this issue
Last week, Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos attacked the Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who called for the end of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia. "If Italy - it is the country that commands Operation Sophia - decides to stop it, it is up to Italy to make that decision”, Avramopoulos said.
Defence ministers are also expected to discuss ongoing initiatives in the field of the European Security and Defence Policy and its future. According to the Romanian Presidency of the Council, they will examine “ways to ensure coherence between the different initiatives and the impact of technological innovation trends on the armed forces of the Member States”.
The day before, over dinner, ministers will discuss the theme “Women, Peace and Security”, a joint priority of the EU, the UN and NATO, and how to integrate this programme into peace operations and crisis management. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will attend the dinner. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)