Stop saying EUNAVFOR Med, say Sophia! (shift)
(BRUSSELS2 to Rome) The European operation to fight human traffickers in the central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med) is going to change its name or rather adopt a nickname in the image of its big sister EUNAVFOR Atalanta.
The High Representative of the EU, Federica Mogherini, announced it in Rome today during her visit to the headquarters of the operation (which I was able to visit on occasion). EUNAVFOR Med will now bear the name of Sophia (or Sofia in Italian *), a little Somali girl, born at sea, at the end of August, on the German frigate Schleswig-Holstein who took care of her after her rescue by the British ship HMS Enterprise (read: Sophia born in the Mediterranean. Vast day of rescue for European ships). A beautiful relay at sea which was well worth a nickname.... This name will allow “ to send the message to the world that the purpose of the operation is to save and protect lives explained Federica Mogherini. NB: it had been given by the German sailors in honor of Princess Sophia von Schleswig-Holstein.
A more active phase
Phase 2, which will start on "October 7", will be more active, the High Representative also promised. " We move from an intelligence phase to an operational phase. “The goal is going to be” this time to stop the traffickers ". During the past few weeks, on around twenty occasions (21 exactly according to our information), European ships have had the opportunity to come across traffickers whom they could have arrested. " 17 from Libya, 3 from Egypt she clarified.
Escort traffickers: hunted down
« The system used by the traffickers is to escort the boats ». “I warn them: it will be more difficult for them, and it will make their business more difficult. she added to the chagrin of the operation HQ officers who would have liked to keep this operational detail a little more discreet in order to be able to strike a blow from the start of phase 2. Of 4 ships currently, the he operation will thus increase to about 7 ships, including a French frigate of the Lafayette type (the Courbet or the Surcouf). Or a doubling of its possibility of action.
Countering the cynicism of human smugglers
Human traffickers and smugglers are " extremely cynical and flexible, changing the route according to the opportunities "concluded the High Representative who heard traffickers warned" We want to make their business less easy, harder to make money, deter Actually "...
Commentary: two important points
On the one hand, if a large majority of traffickers come from a few well-marked Libyan ports, they also benefit from a base in neighboring countries, Egypt in particular. It's proven now. And the two-month intelligence phase during this summer confirmed this fact. Then, in terms of organizing traffic, we went from an artisanal mode to an industrial mode, which is extremely profitable and lucrative. To follow on the Club, an exclusive interview with Rear Admiral Bléjean, number 2 of the operation.
(Update) The transition to phase 2 was confirmed by the ambassadors of the COPS, the Political and Security Committee, on Monday (September 28), who approved the change of name of the operation (Sophia). However, this final step will be formalized at a future meeting of the Council of Ministers (NB: a modification of the decision is necessary).
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
(*) For a few hours uncertainty reigned over the actual spelling of the name. In the end, it was the original name that was taken and not its transcription into Italian...