EU Navfor Med
As a consequence of the April 2015 Libya migrant shipwrecks, the EU launched a military operation known as European Union Naval Force Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med), also known as Operation Sophia, with the aim of neutralising established refugee smuggling routes in the Mediterranean. The operational headquarters is located in Rome.
Operation
The aim of this new operation launched by Europe is to undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and dispose of vessels as well as enabling assets used or suspected of being used by migrant smugglers or traffickers. The Juncker Commission, in particular the HR Federica Mogherini, views this operation as a fundamental contribution to fighting instability in the region and as a way to reduce the loss of lives at sea and increase the security of European citizens.
EUNAVFOR Med consists of three phases:
- The first phase focuses on surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean.
- The second stage of the operation provides for the search and, if necessary, diversion of suspicious vessels.
- The third phase would allow the disposal of vessels and related assets, preferably before use, and to apprehend traffickers and smugglers.
There is a common budget of EURO 11.82 million for a 12 months period.[1] In addition, military assets and personnel are provided by the contributing states with the running costs and personnel costs being met on a national basis.[2]
More than 13,000 migrants have been rescued from the sea in the course of the operation.[3]
Assets
A number of assets have been deployed:[4]
- Italy: mission flagship Aircraft carrier ITS Cavour
- Belgium: Karel Doorman-class frigate Leopold I
- France: La Fayette-class frigate FS Courbet
- Germany: Braunschweig-class corvette Ludwigshafen am Rhein & Berlin-class replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main[5]
- Portugal: P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft
- Slovenia: Svetlyak-class patrol boat SNS Triglav
- Spain: Santa María-class frigate ESPS Numancia[6]
- United Kingdom: Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond & Echo-class survey ship HMS Enterprise[7]
Historical
- Germany: Berlin-class replenishment ship Berlin
- Spain: Santa María-class frigate ESPS Canarias
See also
- Operation Mare Nostrum
- Operation Triton
- European migration crisis
- Migrant vessels on the Mediterranean Sea
References
- ↑ TUNAKAN, BEGÜM (19 May 2015). "EU naval force in Mediterranean faces challenges over migrant crisis". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ↑ "Fact Sheet: EUNAVFOR European Union Naval Force - Mediterranean". European Union Delegation to the United Nations. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ↑ "On the Mediterranean refugee patrol with the Bundeswehr". Deutsche Welle. 22 April 2016.
- ↑ "Background". European Union - External Action. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ↑ "German warship rescues 615 from the Mediterranean". Naval Today. 17 March 2016.
- ↑ "Rescued more than 650 migrants off the Libyan coast". News Directory. 20 March 2016.
- ↑ "HMS Richmond and HMS Enterprise rescue 541 migrants from the Med". The Daily Telegraph. 29 October 2015.