By Robin Emmott and Phil Stewart

BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) – NATO ships are on their approach to the Aegean Sea to assist Turkey and Greece crack down on prison networks smuggling refugees into Europe, the alliance’s high commander stated on Thursday.

Hours after NATO protection ministers agreed to make use of their maritime drive within the japanese Mediterranean to assist fight traffickers, Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove stated he was working rapidly to design the mission.

“We are sailing the ships in the appropriate direction,” Breedlove instructed a information convention, and the mission plan could be refined through the time they have been en route. “That’s about 24 hours,” he stated.

The plan, which was first raised solely on Monday by Germany and Turkey, took NATO unexpectedly and is aimed toward serving to the continent sort out its worst migration disaster since World War Two. More than 1,000,000 asylum-seekers arrived final 12 months.

Unlike the EU’s maritime mission off the Italian coast, which brings rescued migrants to Europe’s shores, NATO will return migrants to Turkey even when they’re picked up in Greek waters.

Britain’s protection minister stated that marked a major change in coverage. “They won’t be taken to Greece and that’s a crucial difference,” Michael Fallon instructed reporters.

NATO will even monitor the Turkey-Syria land border for people-smugglers, stated NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Although the plan remains to be to be detailed by NATO generals, the allies are doubtless to make use of the ships to work with Turkish and Greek coastguards and the European Union border company Frontex.

“There is now a criminal syndicate that is exploiting these poor people and this is an organized smuggling operation,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter instructed reporters.

“Targeting that is the way that the greatest effect can be had … That is the principal intent of this,” Carter stated.

The numbers of individuals fleeing warfare and failing states, primarily within the Middle East and North Africa, present little signal of falling, regardless of winter climate that makes sea crossings much more perilous.

A 3 billion euro ($3.4 billion) deal between the EU and Turkey to stem the flows has but to have a big effect.

SEEKING SHIPS

Germany stated it could participate within the NATO mission together with Greece and Turkey, whereas the United States, NATO’s strongest member, stated it absolutely supported the plan.

The alliance’s so-called Standing NATO Maritime Group Two has 5 ships close to Cyprus, led by Germany and with vessels from Canada, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Breedlove stated NATO would wish allies to contribute to maintain the mission over time.

Denmark is predicted to supply a ship, in keeping with a German authorities supply. The Netherlands may contribute.

“It is important that we now act quickly,” German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen stated.

Intelligence gathered about people-smugglers can be handed to Turkish coastguards to permit them to fight the traffickers extra successfully, fairly than having NATO act immediately towards the criminals, diplomats stated.

Greek and Turkish ships will stay of their respective territorial waters, given sensitivities between the 2 nations.

NATO and the EU are desirous to keep away from the impression that the 28-nation army alliance is now tasked to cease refugees or deal with them as a menace.

“This is not about stopping or pushing back refugee boats,” Stoltenberg stated. ($1 = 0.8837 euros) (Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold in Brussels and Michele Kambas in Athens,; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

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