The EU has agreed to launch a new mission in the Mediterranean to monitor the UN-mandated arms embargo on Libya. NGOs are critical of the bloc's policy on fighting human smuggling and arms trafficking.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz argued that Operation Sophia promoted human trafficking. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said that EU vessels beholden to bloc laws would be better than independent NGO boats.
Proposals to revive the "Sophia" naval mission with a focus on enforcing the UN weapons embargo on Libya have broken down, according to a German media report. Italy had expressed skepticism over the plan.
Following a meeting of EU foreign ministers, the EU's foreign policy chief has said EU countries have agreed to restart the bloc's Mediterranean naval mission with a focus on enforcing an arms embargo on Libya.
The European Union has agreed to extend its Operation Sophia anti-migrant-smuggling mission along the Libyan Mediterranean coast by six months. It will now run until the end of March 2020 — however, actual naval operations remain halted.
Amnesty International and the Council of Europe criticized the agreement by European countries on Operation Sophia, which will be extended for six months without naval support. Amnesty International called the decision "an outrageous abdication of EU governments' responsibilities." Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatocvic expressed "regret for the fact that this will lead to an even greater reduction of naval units in the Mediterranean."
Following the case of the ship Mare Jonio run by the NGO Mediterranea, the European Commission has renewed its appeal to the EU to urgently find predictable solutions for migrant disembarkations.
Germany is suspending participation in Operation Sophia, the EU naval mission targeting human trafficking in the Mediterranean. The decision reportedly relates to Italy's reluctance to allow rescued people to disembark.
EU Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told ANSA in an interview that an EU summit scheduled on September 20 will be key to change the Sophia mission aimed at neutralizing illegal migrant trafficking routes in the Mediterranean.
The EU's naval rescue operation Sophia had been paused over Italian threats not to allow migrant disembarkation at its ports. Rome is now giving the EU five weeks to find a solution to share the migration burden.
The IOM and EU have announced "reintegration assistance" for returning Nigerian migrants. A new report finds there is a pyramid of hatred and racism on the issue of foreigners and migrants in Italy. InfoMigrants takes a look at how the refugee relocation scheme is faring in the EU. This and more in today's news roundup.
Europe is divided over the refugee crisis and there is no unified approach in response, says Sebastian Bruns. According to the security expert, a joint naval aid unit could provide an opportunity.