EU Frontex starts joint operation in the Mediterranean - Malta to provide aerial and expertise assets

EU special border forces Frontex has been given instructions to start preparing for a possible unprecedented influx of immigrants and asylum seekers fleeing Libya towards the EU, particularly through Malta and Lampedusa. The EU has raised its concern about the possible exodus of more than 700,000 Libyan citizens and sub-Saharan Africans from the country towards Europe as a result of the turmoil.

( photo insert Eurofighter)

Frontex stated that “as with all Frontex-coordinated Joint Operations, the host Member State – Italy - will play the leading role. All maritime assets and crews will be provided by the Italian authorities and will patrol a predefined area with a view to detecting and preventing illegitimate border crossings to the Pelagic Islands, Sicily and the Italian mainland.”

Aerial assets will be made available by other Member States for enhanced border surveillance and search and rescue capability will support these sea patrols. Meanwhile, second-line border control will be supported through the deployment of debriefing and screening experts to identify migrant’s nationalities and to gather intelligence on people-smuggling networks. Further support may also be made available in the area of return operations.

EU-Digest