http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/world/article/EU-launches-navy-operation-against-migrant-6341047.php
EU launches navy operation against migrant-traffickers
By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press : June 22, 2015 : Updated: June 22,
2015 7:25am
LUXEMBOURG (AP) — The European Union launched a naval operation Monday
to try to stop human-traffickers from bringing migrants across the
Mediterranean to Europe in unseaworthy boats, a lucrative and at times
deadly practice.
More than 100,000 migrants have entered Europe so far this year, with
some 2,000 dead or missing during the perilous quest to reach the
continent. Dozens of boats set off from lawless Libya each week, with
Italy and Greece bearing the brunt of the surge.
The naval operation, which was officially launched by EU foreign
ministers meeting in Luxembourg, will operate in international waters
and airspace until the EU can secure a U.N. Security Council
resolution endorsing its effort and permission from Libyan officials
to enter their territory.
"We will start implementing the first phase of the operation in the
coming days. This covers information-gathering and patrolling on the
high seas to support the detection and monitoring of smuggling
networks," said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
"The targets are not the migrants. The targets are those that are
making money on their lives and too often on their deaths," she told
reporters.
The EU aims to "dismantle the business model" of the traffickers by
destroying their boats, she said. But the U.N. has been slow to
endorse the operation amid criticism from refugee groups that the move
will only deprive migrants fleeing poverty and conflict of a major way
to escape, rather than address the roots of the problem.
Libya's divided factions have also been reluctant to approve any
operation in its waters or on land, which means that the transition to
more robust phases of the naval mission could take months.
A senior EU diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity so
as to provide operational details, said five naval units led by
Italian light aircraft carrier Cavour will be joined by two
submarines, three maritime surveillance planes, two drones and two
helicopters for the operation.
EU boats and planes will only operate in international waters and
skies, and will be involved in rescue work if needed.
The official was quick to point out that the EU operation is not a
counterterrorism mission, and will stay away from politically
sensitive actions such as boarding or destroying smuggling boats,
which are expected in later phases of the operation.
The first phase aims to understand who the traffickers are, how they
operate, and where the money goes, the official said.
Received on Mon Jun 22 2015 - 08:42:09 EDT