As I was able to write in my previous contribution, published on this paper last month, where I highlighted the commitment of the EU Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to get approved by the European Council - held the 3 February2017 - the named action plan Migration in the central Mediterranean route, to limit the departures of thousands of individuals of various nationalities of the African continent to Italy and Malta (v.articolo). This plan, welcomed, was approved during the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe held in the capital of Malta (Valletta), through the Malta Declaration on the external aspects of migration, through the response to the central Mediterranean route.
What was decided at the Valletta summit? The adoption of operational and immediate measures has been agreed which should favor the reduction of the number of migrants and at the same time save human lives. Furthermore, it was also decided to provide training, equipment and support for the Libyan national coastguard and other relevant agencies with the aim of stopping smugglers or human traffickers, as well as reinforcing research operations. and rescue of migrants. Assistance will be provided on a purely economic level in favor of local communities in Libya in order to improve their situation and support them in providing shelter for blocked migrants. There will be collaboration with the International Organization for Migration to intensify voluntary repatriation from the Libyan territory to the countries of origin. These actions that have their priority will be made concrete through additional EU funds. The entire operation must take place in the sphere of respect for human rights, international law and European values, in concert with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration.
The EU also decided to support the bilateral activities of the Member States directly involved with Libya, welcoming and encouraging the development of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of the development of the fight against illegal immigration, trafficking in human beings, smuggling and strengthening border security signed by the Italian government and the Libyan National Government of Understanding, the latter recognized by the international community, as a further fundamental and encouraging signal. We refer essentially to the agreement signed 2 February 2016 which aims to combat the trafficking of people and stop illegal immigration.
A very delicate aspect should be pointed out: the EU project, now approved by the European Council, provided for the request to be sent to the authorities of the Libyan national agreement government to approve the entry of ships flying the European flag, namely EUNAVFORMED , in the territorial sea of Libya with the sole purpose of countering the so-called trafficking of persons or to seal Libyan ports. On this point, the Libyan government authorities have discarded the hypothesis to avoid their sovereignty being undermined and that the SOPHIA operation may be operational in the Libyan territorial sea. Indeed, the Libyan government aims to establish a single joint command to modernize its fleet.
