EU to focus military actions in the Mediterranean on arresting traffickers

The military operation being carried out by the European Union (EU) in the Mediterranean will focus on arresting traffickers and disabling smugglers vessels, a senior military official has told the European Parliament.

"The EU military operation against people smugglers is about to enter its next phase," said Lieutenant General Wolfgang Wosolsobe, Director General of the EU Military Staff.

According to the statement released Wednesday by the European Parliament, Wosolsobe said the "suspicious" ships will be put out of use to prevent them from being used to transport refugees.

"But not necessarily destroy them. They could be brought back to European shores," he added.

Europe is facing a huge challenge of refugee flows unseen in recent history. Anna Elzbieta Fotyga, member of the European Parliament, called EU military missions to take further actions to tackle people-smuggling.

"It's really necessary to start effective operations," she said.

At the same time, Fotyga said the EU should tackle the root causes of the issue. "We have huge problems here in Europe, but we also have the responsibility to address real problems in Africa," she added.

However, whether and how to address the people-smuggling by the roots has to be decided by the EU member states.

"We are of course in the hands of member states as to how far they wish to go in the broader effort and particularly in the military effort," Lieutenant General Wosolsobe said.

He said there was now sufficient intelligence as to where the boats are, where they come from, where they are stored, how the smugglers are operating on the seas.

But he explained that a UN mandate would be required for his forces to intervene within Libyan territorial waters. Endit