07/06/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 7 June, the EUNAVFOR MED Irini operation, whose main aim is to enforce the arms embargo in Libya, announced that it had inspected 14,520 ships between its launch in March 2020 and 1 June 2024, including 676 in the last two months (see EUROPE 13383/25). The operation visited 623 vessels with the consent of their captains, boarded and inspected 28 suspect vessels and diverted three. No ships were diverted in 2023 and 2024. EUNAVFOR MED Irini also investigated 1,480 suspicious flights. The operation issued 87 recommendations to the relevant law enforcement authorities for the inspection of suspect vessels in EU ports, of which 68 were implemented, and provided 56 special reports to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya. EUNAVFOR MED Irini was extended for a further year on 31 May by the UN Security Council (Russia and China abstained). (CG)