EU to bolster SAR in Mediterranean
In a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April, EU leaders agreed to provide resources to increase search and rescue coverage in the Mediterranean.
Image: HMS Bulwark pictured in 2007 (Hmfcalum)
In a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April, EU leaders agreed to provide resources to increase search and rescue coverage in the Mediterranean. The meeting came at the request of the Italian government, which has struggled to cope with large numbers of migrants attempting to cross from North Africa into Europe, many of whom meet their deaths in the short stretch of sea that separates Italy from Libya. On 19 April alone, over 750 people died attempting to make the crossing.
In a statement, the council said: “The situation in the Mediterranean is a tragedy. The European Union will mobilise all efforts at its disposal to prevent further loss of life at sea and to tackle the root causes of the human emergency that we face, in co-operation with the countries of origin and transit. Our immediate priority is to prevent more people from dying at sea.”
As well as strengthening rescue capability, the Council members said they will work to fight the traffickers and prevent illegal migration flows, adding: “Given that instability in Libya creates an ideal environment for the criminal activities of traffickers, we will actively support all UN-led efforts towards re-establishing government authority in Libya. We will also step up efforts to address conflict and instability as key push factors of migration, including in Syria.”
The EU’s Operation Triton and Operation Poseidon will be rapidly reinforced thanks to a tripling in financial resources, ‘thus allowing to increase the search and rescue possibilities within the mandate of FRONTEX’, said the Council.
Among the assets that will be deployed following the new agreement are surface vessels and aircraft pledged by the UK government. Along with two civilian border patrol vessels, the UK Royal Navy will provide HMS Bulwark, an amphibious assault ship, along with three Merlin MK 2 helicopters. The ship will work in tandem with the surveillance helicopters to provide a day and night search and rescue capability covering ranges in excess of 100 miles, said the UK Ministry of Defence.
Donal Tusk, president of the council commented: “Saving the lives of innocent people is the number one priority. But saving lives is not just about rescuing people at sea. It is also about stopping the smugglers and addressing irregular migration.”