Operation EUNAVFOR MED Irini began its operations at sea on Monday 4 May with a French ship, the Jean Bart, and a maritime patrol aircraft provided by Luxembourg, the operation announced on 7 May.
At the end of April, a Luxembourg aircraft had already carried out training activities (see EUROPE 12477/11).
In addition to these resources, Irini will benefit from an Italian ship – the flagship – a Greek ship and three aircraft from Poland, Germany and France. Malta has also provided a boarding team.
"Assets such as the French ship Jean Bart are particularly valuable for the Operation as they have the potential to monitor both the sea lines of communication and the air traffic flow”, the operation said in its statement.
The European Satellite Centre (SatCen) will provide support for satellite imagery and, according to the operation, “other special assets necessary to carry out the operation’s tasks, such as submarines, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Airborne Early Warning aircraft”, to provide occasional support.
The force command will be assigned to Italy and Greece, alternating every 6 months, and this rotation will take place at the same time as that of the flagship. Irini is currently led by Italian Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini, who is aided by French Rear Admiral Jean-Michel Martinet. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)