EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia authorised to start two additional supporting tasks

On 30 August 2016, the Political and Security Committee authorised EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia to begin two additional supporting tasks:

• training of the Libyan coastguard and navy
• contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya

This EU naval operation aims to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the Southern Central Mediterranean. The Council decided on 20 June 2016 to add these two supporting tasks to the operation’s mandate.

After checking that the necessary conditions have been met, the EU ambassadors meeting within the Political and Security Committee decided on 30 August to authorise the beginning of the new tasks.