The European Union formally extended for a year the naval operations of the “Sofia” anti-traffickers in the Mediterranean sea. It is reported by the EFE news Agency.
According to the decision of the EU Council, the mandate of the mission is not just extended to July 27, 2017, but expanded. Now the operation will be also carried out training of employees of the coast guard and naval forces of Libya and the fight against arms smuggling off the coast of this country. Previously the North African state has asked the EU to help in resolving these issues.
The decision on creation of a separate naval mission to establish control over migration was adopted by the European Union in the summer of 2015. Originally it was to gather information, but later ships of the participating countries moved to the detention and inspection of “suspicious vessels”.
Currently in the mission “Sofia” was attended by 22 EU countries. Over the past year thanks to her, was arrested 139 vessels arrested 71 of the carrier, saved 16 million lives of migrants.
