Brussels, 19/11/2020 (Agence Europe) – The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Thursday 19 November that France has proposed that the civilian port of Marseille be a port of disembarkation for items seized during hailings of ships by Operation EUNAVFORMed Irini. With this announcement, “we have solved a problem of what to do when you stop a ship and it has to disembark”, Borrell said. As of 25 October, the operation had conducted over 1,000 contacts, 35 friendly approaches (consensual visits on board merchant vessels) and 3 inspections (boardings) to verify cargo. A merchant vessel, the Royal Diamond 7, was diverted to a European port on 10 September for further investigation (see EUROPE 12559/5). (CG)