(B2) The situation off Libya continues to be charged with recurring passages of vessels loaded with migrants. But Europe has chosen not to be on the front line anymore
Rescue by European teams from Operation EUNAVFOR Med Sophia in 2016 (credit: EUNAVFOR Med - B2 archives)
Since its launch, the new operation EUNAVFOR Med Irini, which succeeded Operation Sophia on March 31, " never received distress calls and therefore never refused any of them “, specifies the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, in his written response to the European Parliament, made Monday (August 24), covering the period from April to July 21, 2020. He thus seeks to silence certain rumors of refusal of 'assistance.
« On the other hand, the air assets of EUNAVFOR Med Irini have identified eight potential distress situations in the Libyan search and rescue region “, he specifies. This resulted, " in accordance with the obligations arising from the international SOLAS and SAR conventions », the referral of the « competent maritime rescue coordination center (MRCC) ". NB: depending on the zone, that of Tripoli or Rome.
Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).
