The European Union has unveiled its intentions to expand the maritime operation known as ‘Irini’ beyond the waters of Libya. This announcement came during an informal summit held in Brussels just two days ago.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, presented the European Union Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (Frontex) vision for combating migration in the Mediterranean Sea. He disclosed the contemplation of “utilizing the capabilities of Operation Irini to control human trafficking, but for this, we need Tunisia’s approval to operate in its territorial waters.” He noted that the operation was originally designed for Libya, as reported by the Italian news agency, AKI.
Borrell added, “There is a ten-point action plan for me, there is a specific mission, which is to use the capabilities of the Common Security and Defense Policy, both maritime and land, to combat human trafficking and prevent them from being used as weapons.”
Operation ‘Irini’ was established in 2020 with the mission of monitoring the implementation of the United Nations arms embargo on Libya, curbing oil smuggling, documenting violations, and reporting them to a UN committee. ‘Irini’ teams work in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to control irregular migration and train the Libyan Coast Guard.
As the European Union considers expanding the scope of Operation ‘Irini,’ it signals a potential shift in the operation’s mandate beyond Libyan waters, highlighting its commitment to combatting human trafficking and instability in the region.
