29/05/2020 (Agence Europe) – The Council of the EU decided, on Thursday 28 May, to appoint Italian Rear Admiral Ettore Socci as EU Force Commander for the operation to monitor compliance with the arms embargo on Libya, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, from 6 May 2020 to 18 October 2020 (see EUROPE 12493/5). He has been the Force Commander of Operation Sophia since June 2019. Mr Socci will be replaced by Greek Commodore Theodoros Mikropoulos from 19 October 2020 to 31 March 2021. Mr Mikropoulos commanded the Hellenic Naval Base in the Bay of Souda (Crete). The two men will act under the authority of the commander of the operation, Italian Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini. (CG)