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EU extends naval operation against human smugglers in Mediterranean

Meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg
Meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg
BRUSSELS, June 20 (KUNA) -- The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg Monday extended until 27 July 2017 the mandate of the Operation Sophia, the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the Southern Central Mediterranean.
The Council in a statement said it also reinforced the operation's mandate by adding two supporting tasks: training of the Libyan coastguards and navy and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya.
This will increase maritime situation awareness and limit arms flows to the so-called Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups, it noted.
A more secure and stable Libya will reduce illicit traffics and thereby contribute to the overall efforts for the disruption of human trafficking and smuggling networks, it stressed.
Operation Sophia was launched on 22 June 2015 with the aim to capture and disposal of vessels used or suspected of being used by migrants' smugglers or traffickers.
Since then, the operation has contributed to the arrest and transfer to the Italian authorities of 71 suspected smugglers and traffickers and neutralised 139 vessels. In addition, the operation has helped save close to 16 000 lives.
Meanwhile, the Council discussed the EU comprehensive approach to security and development in the Sahel region and how to strengthen the political dialogue and partnership further with G5 countries, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, on security and migration.
The Council in a statement said the EU is alarmed by the increase in smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings, drugs and arms in the Sahel region.
"Such illegal activities have a negative impact on the region's stability and security. They also form a source of income for terrorist groups and other threats to stability in the Sahel," it warned. (Pick up previous) nk.mt