26/09/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 26 September, the EU Council extended the mandate of the EUNAVFOR Med Sophia maritime operation for six months, until 31 March 2020 (see EUROPE 12335/28). “The deployment of the operation’s naval assets will remain temporarily suspended, with EU Member States continuing to work in the appropriate fora on a solution on disembarkation”, the EU Council said in a statement. It reiterated that Member States are ready to return to this issue whenever necessary to give the Commander possible new guidance on the deployment of the operation’s naval assets. EUNAVFOR Med Sophia’s mandate previously ran until 30 September. (CG)