A European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (European Union Naval Force Mediterranean operation IRINI)

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 on a European Union military operation in the Mediterranean

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It sets up European Union Naval Force Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) operation IRINI (Greek for ‘peace’), whose primary role is to implement the arms embargo on Libya established by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 (2011), 2292 (2016) and 2473 (2019) by using its military aerial, satellite and maritime resources.
Operation IRINI’s secondary tasks are to:
- prevent the illegal export of oil from Libya;
- train and develop the Libyan coast guard and navy in their law enforcement duties, particularly against human smuggling and trafficking;
- help clamp down on human smuggling and trafficking by gathering information and patrolling the high seas.

KEY POINTS

To implement the arms embargo, operation IRINI:

monitors and gathers information on illegal exports of arms and related material, petroleum, crude oil and refined petroleum products;
inspects vessels to and from Libya suspected of carrying arms;
seizes and disposes of any weapons found;
collects personal data of people found trafficking;
shares information it gathers with the relevant national, EU and international authorities;
may divert vessels breaking the arms embargo to a specified port;
establishes a crime information cell of national and EU law enforcement authorities to handle and process the information collected.

Decision (CFSP) 2021/542 amends Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 and specifies the arrangements for disposing of arms and related military equipment seized when implementing the United Nations (UN) arms embargo on Libya, including the storage, destruction and transfer of seized items to an EU Member State or to a third party.

The European Peace Facility, set up under Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 – see summary – bears the costs for storage and disposal of arms and related military equipment seized by operation IRINI within its area of operations, including costs related to the necessary port services. The facility also bears the costs for any financial liability resulting from the diversion of a vessel or from subsequent actions related to the transportation, storage and disposal of the seized items, except in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct by the Member State assisting in the disposal or by any of its agents.

The political control and strategic direction of operation IRINI are provided by the following.

The Political and Security Committee, which reconfirms authorisation of the operation every 4 months and reports regularly to EU governments.
The EU Military Committee (set up by Decision 2001/79/CFSP), which monitors the operation.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who:
- ensures IRINI is consistent with the EU’s overall foreign policy, including its development programmes and humanitarian assistance;
- acts as main contact point with the UN and other international and bilateral actors, including countries in the region;
- may share EU classified and non-classified information with non-EU countries and bodies, such as the International Criminal Court, the UN and Interpol.

Operation IRINI’s initial mandate ran until 31 March 2021. Amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/653 extended the mandate until 31 March 2025.

Operation IRINI’s operational headquarters are in Rome under the command of Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 31 March 2020.

BACKGROUND

At the Berlin Conference on Libya of 19 January 2020 participants committed to fully respecting and implementing the arms embargo imposed by various UN Security Council resolutions.
EU Member States agreed on 17 February 2020 to launch a new operation in the Mediterranean to implement the UN arms embargo.
At the same time, the EU agreed by Decision (CFSP) 2020/471 to end the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia on 31 March 2020. This operation had been launched on 22 June 2015 as part of the EU’s overall approach to migration.
For further information, see:
- EU launches operation IRINI to enforce Libya arms embargo – press release (Council of the European Union).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 of 31 March 2020 on a European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) (OJ L 101, 1.4.2020, pp. 4–10).

Successive amendments to Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.