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EU to establish military operation to target traffickers in Mediterranean

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) defense and foreign affairs ministers agreed in a meeting on Monday to establish an EU military operation to stop people smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean.

The decision, called EU Navfor Med, was one element of the comprehensive EU response to the migration challenge, a statement published after the Council meeting said.

EU Navfor Med will be conducted in phases, including planning the operation based on the surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks. Then, work to search, seize and disrupt the assets of smugglers, based on international law and in partnership with Libyan authorities will take place.

The operational headquarters of EU Navfor Med will be in Rome and Italian Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino has been appointed as Operation Commander. Endit