END OF SOPHIA OPERATION BECAUSE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SHOULDNT EXCLUDE HUMANITY

USPA NEWS - The foreign ministers of the 27 have decided on a new air and naval operation to succeed the Sophia mission. The naval component of Sophia was suspended in March 2019 when Italy opposed the landing on its shores of migrants rescued at sea. Since then, the operation has been limited to an aerial surveillance mission. The return of European ships off the Libyan coast is necessary to ensure effective monitoring of the arms embargo imposed on Libya and is a step towards a common European response to the conflict. However, we regret that the new operation focuses on controlling the embargo to the detriment of the fight against human trafficking and rescue at sea. While hundreds of people continue to lose their lives offshore European ports.

The naval component of Sophia was suspended in March 2019 when Italy opposed the landing on its shores of migrants rescued at sea. Since then, the operation has been limited to an aerial surveillance mission. The return of European ships off the Libyan coast is necessary to ensure effective monitoring of the arms embargo imposed on Libya and is a step towards a common European response to the conflict. However, we regret that the new operation focuses on controlling the embargo to the detriment of the fight against human trafficking and rescue at sea. While hundreds of people continue to lose their lives offshore European ports------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Worse, the Council has taken care to prevent any risk of “drafts“ by adding a recall clause to the agreement. This clause provides that if there is an increase in the number of migrants passing through an area of “‹“‹the Mediterranean then the European operation boats will be withdrawn from this area. The Member States thus protect themselves from their obligation to provide assistance. It is shameful that such a clause exists. The members of the French social and ecological delegation, Sylvie Guillaume and Raphaël Glucksmann, declare: "We regret to recognize here the outrageous language of the far right adopted within the Council. The theory of the "air draft" is firmly denied by the facts, this "precaution" is outrageous. We once again call for the deployment of a rescue mission and the resumption of rescue operations in the Mediterranean, where every day people die trying to reach Europe. " Source : Delegation of the social and ecological left in the European Parliament