EU Naval Force – Mediterranean (Operation Sophia): Government responds to Committee's report

• Inquiry: EU Naval Force – Mediterranean (Operation Sophia)
• Report: Operation Sophia, the EU's naval mission in the Mediterranean: an impossible challenge (PDF)
• Report: Operation Sophia, the EU's naval mission in the Mediterranean: an impossible challenge (HTML)
• Government response: Operation Sophia, the EU's naval mission in the Mediterranean: an impossible challenge (PDF)

Background

On 22 June 2015, the European Union launched a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operation to disrupt the business model of people smuggling in the Southern Central Mediterranean. On 28 September 2015, the mission was renamed Operation Sophia, after a baby born aboard one of the mission's ships off the coast of Libya. It patrols the high seas off the coast of Libya to Italy, gathering information, rescuing migrants, and destroying boats used by smugglers.

Through the course of the inquiry, the Committee took evidence on whether Operation Sophia is delivering its mandate, progress to date in gathering intelligence on smuggling networks, the appropriateness of the mission's mandate, plans for the next phases of the mission and how Operation Sophia works alongside other actors including Frontex's Operation Triton off the coast of Italy, the work of NGOs in the Mediterranean Sea and the new NATO mission in the Aegean.

The response

The letter from the former Minister for Europe thanks the Committee for its "detailed and welcome contribution" to the debate on the European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean. The Government agrees with the Committee that Operation Sophia "faces a challenging context and delivering its core mandate is not a straightforward task."

The response restates the Government's view that a CSDP mission—rather than a commercial, non-military or Frontex operation—is justified and states that “Operation Sophia's sophisticated assets are fundamental to the EU's ability to understand and counter the smuggling networks.”

The Government agrees with the Committee "that the greatest effect is likely to be achieved in the operation's later phases, but that these are dependent upon political conditions in Libya." The Government states that Operation Sophia "will begin a package of training for the Libyan Coastguard" which will "boost the capacity of the Libyan Coastguard to tackle migration themselves." NATO support on migration via the central Mediterranean has also been sought "in order to allow the Alliance to bring to bear its considerable Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and other capabilities." These are both moves that the Committee considered and made recommendations on in its report.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: European External Action Service