EU launches naval mission to police Libya arms embargo
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EU ambassadors agreed to deploy a new naval mission in the Central Mediterranean to police the U.N. arms embargo on Libya.
The new Irini mission (the Greek word for “peace”), will replace the existing one, Operation Sophia. That was launched at the height of the 2015 migration crisis and its mandate expires at the end of the month. Irini will have a tighter geographic scope and other features to reduce the risk of it acting as a “pull-factor” for migrants.
A replacement for Sophia was deemed necessary because of the fierce military conflict in Libya between the U.N.-backed government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and the strongman of the east of the country, Khalifa Haftar. Sarraj is backed by Italy, the former colonial power, and also by Qatar and Turkey. Haftar is backed by France, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the U.S.
Greece offered its ports from which migrants rescued at sea will be relocated on a voluntary basis among member countries, according to three diplomats. The ambassadors agreed that harbor costs will be considered common costs of the operation and won’t be borne by Greece alone.
Also, to reduce the chance the naval ships act as a pull-factor for would-be migrants, the mission’s commander can decide “to redeploy the vessels more east or more north, anyway outside the pull-factor zone,” said a senior diplomat. Another option is that a member country can write to Borrell who will discuss with member countries whether to redeploy, the diplomat added.
Every four months, member countries will review the deal and for at least the first four months Italy will not itself take any migrants.
