EU Launches Intel Op – Drones, Submarines to Hunt Migrant Smugglers - Maritime and Salvage Wolrd News

By Adrian Croft

LUXEMBOURG, June 22 (Reuters) – The European Union will use submarines, warships, drones and helicopters in an operation to collect intelligence on gangs who smuggle hundreds of asylum-seekers to Europe from Libya, officers stated on Monday.

EU overseas ministers agreed at a gathering in Luxembourg to launch the operation though it is going to be restricted to intelligence-gathering for now as a result of it has but to acquire U.N. authorisation.

The operation is a part of a stepped-up European response to a surge of migrants from Africa and the Middle East making the harmful crossing from Libya to Europe.

Many have drowned within the Mediterranean, together with round 800 killed in a shipwreck in April.

The operation, as initially envisaged, was meant to disrupt the migrant traffickers’ enterprise and to seize and destroy their ships, presumably even in Libyan waters.

But the EU would require a U.N. Security Council decision and consent from the Libyan authorities to function in Libyan territorial waters and coastal areas and it has neither to date.

“Let me be very clear: The targets are not the migrants, the targets are those that are making money on their lives and too often on their deaths. It is part of our effort to save lives,” EU overseas coverage chief Federica Mogherini instructed reporters.

About 10 nations have provided 5 warships, two submarines, three reconnaissance plane, two surveillance drones and three helicopters for the operation, in addition to round 1,000 navy personnel, an EU official stated.

The planes and ships would start transferring into worldwide waters off Libya “in the coming days” however it will take a month for the mission to be totally up and working, the official stated.

Reflecting the potential risks, the EU official stated service provider ships outdoors Libyan territorial waters had twice not too long ago been attacked by fighter plane utilizing rockets and coastal artillery, and armed traffickers had threatened folks making an attempt to save lots of migrants.

If the EU ships come throughout migrants at sea, they’ll assist rescue them.

EU officers nonetheless hope for Libyan consent and a U.N. decision later that might permit them to deal with the traffickers. The EU would solely be capable to transfer to extra aggressive actions if EU overseas ministers gave the go-ahead.

European members of the U.N. Security Council had been drafting a decision to approve the EU operation beneath Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which permits using drive.

But diplomats stated the work was placed on maintain earlier this month pending Libyan consent to the operation, a significant impediment as a result of two rival governments and parliaments are combating for management there.

Gaining Libyan consent might depend upon U.N.-brokered peace talks reaching an settlement on a nationwide unity authorities. (Editing by Ruth Pitchford)