EU begins naval operation against human smugglers in Mediterranean

BRUSSELS, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- The EU began Wednesday its naval operation called "EUNAVFOR MED" against human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean.
After having achieved all the objectives of the first phase of the operation in terms of intelligence gathering, training and deployment, the Operation Commander, Admiral Enrico Credendino, stated the Forceآ’s readiness for the second phase, noted an EU press release.
During the second phase, the military operation will conduct boarding, search, seizure and diversion, on the high seas, of vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling or trafficking.
At the moment, EUNAVFOR MED has 6 naval unites (the Italian flagship Cavour, 2 German, 1 UK, 1 French and 1 Spanish warships) and SEVEN air assets among planes and Helicopters. tHREE more vessels will join the naval Force in the Area of Operation in few weeks.
In its first phase, launched on 22 June 2015, the operation patrolled on the high seas, gathering information detecting and monitoring the smuggling networks. EUNAVFOR MED, established last May, is part of a wider EUآ’s comprehensive approach to migration, tackling both current symptoms and root causes such as conflict, poverty, climate change and persecution. (end) nk.rk