EU extends anti-people smuggling Operation Sophia for a year

EU News 220/2016

20/06/2016

EU foreign ministers agreed today to extend Operation Sophia by a year and to add two tasks to its mandate: training Libyan coastguards and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas. The EU naval operation Sophia was launched last year to disrupt the business model of people smugglers in the Mediterranean.

Ministers also backed the initiative of High Representative Federica Mogherini to launch a trilateral dialogue between Libya, Niger and Chad on joint border management of the southern border of Libya, which presents many challenges, both in terms of migration and security issues.

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Ministers also discussed the latest initiatives on the Middle East Peace Process, with EU Special Representative for the MEPP, Fernando Gentilini, looking ahead to the publication of a new report by the Quartet (the EU, US, Russia and the UN).

Source and additional information:
http://eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/2016/200616_june_fac_en.htm

Shoot location: Luxembourg Shoot date: 20/06/2016 Copyright: No commercial use. Credit 'The European Union' URL

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