Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto, Commander of EUNAVFOR MED Irini, told the European Parliament on Wednesday 28 June that the operation had inspected 10,435 vessels as of 22 June 2023, since it was launched in March 2020. Nearly 2,300 ships were inspected in 2023 (see EUROPE 13095/26).
One of the aims of the mission is to enforce the arms embargo on Libya. According to Cosmin Dobran, Director of the Integrated Approach to Security and Peace at the European External Action Service, the United Nations has seen a “net” reduction in violations of this embargo with the mission. “Irini remains a necessary tool”, he said. “Irini is not the solution to the Libyan crisis, but it is an important tool for creating the conditions for a solution to the crisis”, added the rear admiral.
The operation, whose mandate has been renewed by the EU until March 2025, has visited 511 ships since March 2020 with the consent of their captains, boarded and inspected 25 suspect vessels and seized three. No ships have yet been boarded in 2023.
EUNAVFOR MED Irini investigated 1,153 suspicious flights.
Through the Integrated Crime Information Unit, the operation issued 78 recommendations to relevant law enforcement authorities for the inspection of suspect vessels in the ports of EU Member States (three in 2023), of which 62 were implemented.
The operation has also provided 41 special reports to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya, but none in 2023.
In addition, although it is not part of its mandate, from June 2022 to the present day, Irini has taken part in five rescue operations at sea, saving 1,000 people, according to the Rear Admiral. Mr Turchetto pointed out that migrant flows were high in March and April, due in particular to the difficult weather and storms in the preceding months, but in May and June flows returned to 2021 levels. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)