(B2 - exclusive) The coronavirus outbreak has taken over the force headquarters of the EU embargo control operation in Libya (EUNAVFOR Med / Irini)
At Rome HQ (credit: EUNAVFOR Med Irini)
The force staff 'out'
As stated in our previous article (read: The flagship of Operation Irini hit hard by the Covid-19. Cases at EUTM Mali too), a very large part of the crew of theITS Carlo Margottini was tested positive for the virus, as well as a good part of the onboard staff (the force staff or FHQ for military abbreviation). In the end, 18 tested positive (and not 4 as initially announced), including the Force Commander and the Chief of Staff (COS), according to the latest report, obtained by B2. Which is logical given the crowded conditions on board, and the number of cases observed after the tests.
A pragmatic solution
Out of a staff of 25 officers, only seven negatives remain. Which is too little to make the general staff work. It is therefore the Operation Headquarters (OHQ), located in Rome, which has temporarily taken over the functions of command of the EU operational force. A rather original solution. But, in itself, this does not really pose a practical problem, all orders being placed electronically (or by radio). In the case of a land combat operation, such a solution would be detrimental to efficiency. In the case of a naval air operation, it is quite manageable, at least temporarily.
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).
