European Union Naval Force - Mediterranean

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The EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA - until October 26, 2015 EU NAVFOR MED (Abbreviation for European Union Naval Force - Mediterranean ) - was a multinational military crisis management operation of the European Union , which has the mandate to combat people smuggling - and human trafficking networks and combat of smugglers and their infrastructure in the south central Mediterranean between the Italian coast on the one hand and the Tunisian and Libyan coast on the other . With the expansion of the mandate in May 2016, the mission also aimed to establish an effective Libyan coast guard . The EU mandate for Operation Sophia ended on March 31, 2020 . To them that followed surgery Irini .

Pictured: The Mission's Military Commander Enrico Credendino and Sven Mikser , Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

assignment

Operational objectives

The mission of the military operation related in a first phase to the planning of the operation as well as the reconnaissance and surveillance of people smuggling and trafficking networks in the south central Mediterranean through the use of maritime patrols , drones and specific satellite surveillance . Furthermore, part of the order remained to contribute to reducing further casualties at sea. According to EU estimates, 80 percent of migrants start from Libya . From the beginning of July 2015, detailed knowledge of the structures and networks of the tugs was gained, said Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino , Commander of the EU NAVFOR MED .

In the second phase, in which the operation has been since October 7, 2015 - depending on the approval of the United Nations Security Council or the Libyan government - suspicious boats are also supposed to be arrested and suspected in Libyan territorial waters (e.g. in the Great Syrte ) Smugglers are arrested. The smugglers are said to be confiscated. The internationally recognized government of Libya in Tobruk has so far refused to give its consent at the end of May 2015. Regardless of this, the EU Foreign Affairs Representative Federica Mogherini said on September 3, 2015, phase two of the operation should begin within a few weeks. For the fight against smugglers, the increase of the fleet from four to seven ships and their reinforcement by an Italian submarine and reconnaissance drones were planned. In addition, a troop contributor conference has been scheduled for September 16, 2015 to determine the final details.

As part of a communication on the current status of the implementation of the priorities within the framework of the European Migration Agenda, the EU Commission also announced the successful transition of the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA to the second phase.

A third phase should - subject to the approval of the United Nations Security Council - also enable the destruction of the infrastructure of people smugglers and their boats on Libyan territory (docks).

Expansion 2016

On May 19, 2016, the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced at a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels that the operation should be expanded by a resolution of the EU Foreign Ministers on May 23 in order to support the establishment of a Libyan coast guard and Help enforce the United Nations arms embargo . The decision of the EU foreign ministers, which also includes an extension of the operation by one year, forms the basis for subsequent formal decisions. On June 14, 2016, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2292, which had been tabled by Great Britain and France. This authorizes member states - for a limited period of twelve months from the date of the resolution of the resolution - to inspect watercraft coming from or going to Libya on the high seas if they suspect that these watercraft are directly or indirectly carrying weapons or material connected to them transport from or to Libya in violation of certain provisions of other resolutions.

This authorization enables the European Union to entrust the implementation of the arms embargo against Libya to the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA in accordance with international law . On June 20, 2016, the Council extended the mandate of the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA to July 27, 2017 and expanded it to include two support tasks: firstly, the training of the Libyan coast guard and navy and, secondly, to implement the United Nations arms embargo on the high seas and off the coast of Libya.

In June 2016, the Council of the European Union decided to help build the capacity of the Libyan coast guard so that it can again take action against smugglers and carry out search and rescue activities. The training of 89 members of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy was completed in February 2017. Four Libyan Coast Guard patrol boats were overhauled and 6 more deployed. According to Thomas de Maizière, the Libyan coast guard had rescued around 10,000 people from distress at sea by early July 2017.

On the occasion of the visit of the Austrian Foreign Minister Kurz in the spring of 2017 to Libya in the course of the efforts of the EU states to cooperate with the Libyan authorities, Libya's Foreign Minister Mohammed Taher Siyala emphasized in connection with international military aid in the fight against smugglers that this would be supported by the UN Security Council is required. Help with technical equipment such as surveillance drones is also more important than arms deliveries.

In July 2017, the EU governments agreed to temporarily pay the Libyan coast guard recruits who are undergoing EU training at a rate of 100 euros per week. This discussion blocked the continuation of this training for months.

International media reported that despite EU funding and training, some Libyan coast guard units used violence against migrants.

Delayed extension by Italy in 2017 and extension until the end of 2018

In 2015, Italy agreed to land the migrants rescued during the operation in Italian ports. At that time it was not foreseeable that the EU ships sent to fight against human smugglers would save tens of thousands of people from distress at sea. In the first half of 2017, more than 93,000 people arrived on the Italian coast. The country is reaching its capacity limits.

In mid-July 2017, Italy initially prevented the EU military deployment of Operation SOPHIA from being extended. The Italian government had announced the need for further investigations at short notice, which is why the EU foreign ministers were unable to decide on an extended mandate for Operation SOPHIA as planned. Observers assumed that Italy wanted its European partners to accept more migrants. The EU countries then disagreed on how the operation should be continued. The German government demanded an extension of SOPHIA and offered support from Italy. The strongest opponent of a continuation at the previous level was Austria with its Foreign Minister Kurz ( ÖVP ).

On July 25, 2017, two days before the end of the mission, Italy gave up its resistance; The EU announced through the Foreign Affairs Representative Mogherini that it had unanimously decided to extend the operation until the end of 2018 [obsolete] . The tasks were expanded to monitor the effectiveness of the training of the Libyan coast guard, to carry out clarification regarding illegal oil exports from Libya itself and to ensure a better exchange of information between the law enforcement authorities of the EU member states, Frontex and Europol . The Italian representatives gave up their opposition to the mission after the EU Commission had promised Italy a further 100 million euros to accelerate asylum procedures and aid refugees. The Commission also assured Italy that it would accelerate the resettlement of newcomers from Italy to other EU countries.

In mid-July 2018, the Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi informed the EU Foreign Representative Federica Mogherini that Italy would refuse to accept migrants rescued as part of Operation Sophia in the future. In a letter, Milanesi Mogherini announced that Italy was “under the current circumstances no longer in the position” to “agree to the operational plan of the Sophia mission and act accordingly”. On July 19, 2018, the responsible ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee (PSK) of the EU began to discuss alternative solutions for distributing the affected migrants. A consensus has not yet been found.

The EU states could not agree on the redistribution of the rescued persons brought to Italy in accordance with the mandate, so that in the summer of 2018 Italy threatened to block access to Italian ports not only for private but also for marine rescuers.

At the end of August 2018, Spiegel reported that the Italian-run control center for sea rescue in the Mediterranean was no longer using the warships of the EU member states for rescue missions. The magazine cited high-ranking naval officers. Since the early summer of 2018, not a single EU ship has been sent on a rescue mission by the MRSC Rome . Instead, the ships in the operation are cruising far away from the Libyan coast and using sensors to monitor tug activities in the Mediterranean. From the point of view of the Bundeswehr, Italy has been sabotaging the rescue of refugees by the EU ships of the “Sophia” mission for months. Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen gave exactly this reason when she declared in January 2019 that the German ships would only be ordered to remote parts of the Mediterranean by Italian operations, far from smuggling and refugee routes. It therefore temporarily withdrew the German ships from the operation.

Extension to September 2019 and end of the use of ships

With the regular extension of the Sophia mission in March 2019, it was decided to continue until September 30, 2019, but the use of seaworthy units was suspended due to the open question of distribution regarding rescued migrants. The UNHCR called this de facto attitude towards sea rescue an oppressive setback for a Europe of humanity.

Activists from Germany and a few politicians demanded that Sophia be resumed as a rescue mission in the summer of 2019 , but could not prevail against the majority of EU countries.

The following important information is missing from this article or section:
Further extension, expiry at the end of March 2020, replacement by Operation Irini .
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Legal basis

In a declaration adopted at the Extraordinary European Council of 23 April 2015 "[...] the High Representative is requested to immediately begin preparations for a possible CSDP operation [...] [...]" which aims to achieve the objective prosecuted "[...] smashing traffickers' nets, bringing the perpetrators to justice and confiscating their assets [...]".

On May 18, 2015, the European Council agreed with Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 of May 18, 2015 on the implementation of a military crisis management operation (EU NAVFOR MED ), the mandate of which is to contribute to “[…] the The business model of people smuggling and trafficking networks in the south-central Mediterranean Sea [...] by making systematic efforts to detect ships and items on board that are used or suspected of being used by people smugglers or traffickers, in accordance with applicable international law , including the UNCLOS [ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Completed in Montego Bay on December 10, 1982 - editor's note. Author ] and any resolutions of the United Nations Security Council to identify, seize and destroy. ”After the Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the EU had approved the entire operational plan of the EU military mission EU NAVFOR MED on June 19, 2015 , the EU foreign ministers also agreed on June 22, 2015 in Luxembourg. With the decision (CFSP) 2015/972 of the Council of the European Union of June 22, 2015 the military operation was initiated.

On September 28, 2015, the Political and Security Committee decided that “[t] he military operation of the European Union in the south-central Mediterranean (EU NAVFOR MED ) […] with effect from October 7, 2015 in the second phase according to Article 2 paragraph 2 letter b number i of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 [occurs]. "

On the proposal of the Operation Commander of September 24, 2015 and on the proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on October 26, 2015, the Council of the European Union decided to change the name of the operation from "EU NAVFOR MED " with immediate effect decided on “EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA”.

German participation and mandate

While the federal government was able to provide the EU NAVFOR MED operation with a mandate in its first phase - in which it was purely a reconnaissance operation - the mandate of the German Bundestag had to be obtained for the second phase of the EU NAVFOR MED , the armed fight against smugglers because it is a war effort by the Bundeswehr. On September 16, 2015, the federal government decided to "[...] participate in the EU operation EU NAVFOR MED to prevent the business model of people smuggling and trafficking networks in the southern and central Mediterranean [...]" and submitted an application on the same day for approval of this participation in the German Bundestag.

This was discussed on September 24, 2015 in the plenary session of the German Bundestag and referred to several committees . On September 29, 2015, the Foreign Affairs Committee submitted its recommendation for a resolution including a report on the Federal Government's application, and on September 30, the Budget Committee presented its report in accordance with Section 96 of the Rules of Procedure .

On October 1, 2015, the German Bundestag discussed the recommended resolution and the reports in plenary. He accepted the recommendation for a resolution in a roll-call vote with 449 votes in favor to 116 against with 2 abstentions. Two motions of opposition fractions to was rejected. This created the legal prerequisites for the start of the armed operation. In the European context, Great Britain, France and Italy in particular had pushed for the smugglers' hunt to begin quickly within the framework of the EU NAVFOR MED . On July 7, 2016, the German Bundestag voted by roll call with almost all the votes of the governmental fractions against the votes of the opposition fractions for the continuation and expansion of the German mission. The new mandate was limited to June 30, 2017, subject to the extension of the decision of the Council of the EU and the UN resolutions.

On January 23, 2019, Defense Minister von der Leyen announced that the German ships would be withdrawn from the operation for the time being. The marines had not been able to carry out a meaningful job for months, since the Italian EUNAFOR MED command always used the German ships in sea areas far away from the relevant smuggling routes. Brussels must clearly define the objectives of the operation. The left accused the federal government of giving in to the right-wing Italian government and demanded that the military rescue mission be replaced by a civilian one.

After the Bundestag extended the mandate for the last time in June 2018, the German Defense Ministry announced in early June 2019 that its remaining staff would be returning from the mission in Rome at the end of the mandate.

United Nations Security Council resolution 2240 (2015)

On October 9, 2015, adopted Security Council of the United Nations , the Resolution  2240 (2015). Among other things , in this resolution he authorized the acting member states "[...] to inspect ships on the high seas off the coast of Libya for a period of one year from the date of the adoption of the resolution [...] if they have sufficient reasons for the Suspicion that they are being used for smuggling migrants or human trafficking out of Libya, provided that these member states and regional organizations make good efforts to obtain the consent of the flag state of the ship concerned before they make use of the […] authorization ”and on the basis of the aforementioned "[...] Authorization [...] to seize controlled ships that are proven to be used for the smuggling of migrants or human trafficking from Libya [...]".

The resolution points out that the international law laid down in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 provides the legal framework for marine activities. It reaffirms the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Additional Protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air and its Additional Protocol on the Prevention, Combating and Punishment of Trafficking in Human Beings, in particular women and children, and refers to its additional protocols as a whole. The resolution also refers to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention on Search and Rescue at Sea .

The Security Council has regularly extended the mandate, which was initially limited to one year, for another year, most recently through resolution 2437 (2018) of October 3, 2018.

As a result, the Political and Security Committee of the European Union issued a resolution on January 20, 2016, “[t] he military operation of the European Union in the south-central Mediterranean (EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA) […] [to] authorize according to to stop, search and seize ships on the high seas in accordance with the conditions set out in UN Security Council resolution 2240 (2015) during the period set out in this resolution and later possibly extended by the Security Council in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 and redirect those suspected of being used for people smuggling or trafficking. "

rating

In May 2016 a report in the British Parliament concluded that the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA was a complete failure and had become a magnet for migrants and made smugglers' business easier. The destruction of the smuggler boats only led to the fact that they switched to cheap inflatable boats, which make the crossing life-threatening. Operation SOPHIA only functions as a sea rescue mission.

In July 2017, a British House of Lords commission came to the conclusion that SOPHIA should not be extended. The aim of disrupting the business of people smugglers had not been achieved. The rescue of shipwrecked people is praiseworthy, but could better be taken over by more suitable civilian ships.

According to EU information, the Sophia Mission was involved in the rescue of almost 730,000 refugees from 2015 to 2019.

organization

The political control and strategic direction of the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA is exercised by the Political and Security Committee (PSC), under the responsibility of the Council and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . The correct implementation of the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA is monitored by the Chairman of the EU Military Committee under the responsibility of the Commander of the EU Operation Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino . In her role as first point of contact, the High Representative is supported by the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the European Union. The operational headquarters (i.e. the headquarters at the military strategic level) of EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA is located in Rome ( Italy ). Deputy Operation Commander is the Admiral of the French Navy, Gilles Humeau . The Italian Navy is the flagship and has de facto command of the military crisis management operation.

The Italian aircraft carrier Garibaldi , flagship of EU NAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA since June 2016

The ships involved vary according to the principle of rotation. The flagship has been the Italian aircraft carrier Garibaldi since June 2016 . In the first year of operation, it was the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour also the first on the Commander Task Force ( CTF , commanders at sea) Rear Admiral Andrea Gueglio embarked with his staff. As of July 1, 2016, another four ships as well as three aircraft and three helicopters were used. Great Britain participated with the reconnaissance and research ship HMS Enterprise . A total of 19 different ships as well as various aircraft and helicopters have been involved in the operation at different times.

The distress control center ( Rescue Coordination Center , MRCC ) in Rome (Italy) coordinated the rescue operations.

Nations involved

The German tender Werra
The Spanish frigate Reina Sofía
The British research ship HMS Enterprise

25 member states take part in the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA:

The states bear the costs of the operation themselves. There is also an EU budget of 11.82 million euros for twelve months. Associated with the mission was for a time an Icelandic Coast Guard ship .

Contribution of Germany

The Tender Werra the Tender class 404 (same class)

Even before the launch of Operation EU NAVFOR MED , the German participated Navy since May 7, 2015, the frigate (221 F) Hessen and the combat support Berlin (A 1411) at the nationally organized "rescue the Mediterranean". The two ships returned to their home port in Wilhelmshaven in June 2015 - before the start of Operation EU NAVFOR MED on June 22nd .

Around four weeks after the start of the national "Mediterranean Sea Rescue", the Schleswig-Holstein frigate (F 216) from the 2nd frigate squadron and the Werra tender (A 514) from the 5th minesweeping squadron replaced the Hessen and Berlin . On June 30, 2015, the two ships were placed under Operation EU NAVFOR MED , which was launched on June 22 .

On July 15, 2015 the Werra rescued 211 people from distress at sea, 103 on August 15 and another 105 on August 19.

The Werra was replaced on October 15, 2015 by the newly deployed task force supplier Berlin . Schleswig-Holstein , who returned to Wilhelmshaven on November 7, 2015 , was replaced by the Augsburg frigate (F 213) , which left there on November 20, 2015. Augsburg, which was briefly assigned to another mission, was in turn replaced on December 3, 2015 by the mine hunter Weilheim (M1059) .

On January 11, 2016, the corvette Ludwigshafen am Rhein (F 264) from the 1st Corvette Squadron and the task force supply Frankfurt am Main (A 1412) left to participate in the EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA, with the Frankfurt am Main taking over the tasks of its sister ship, of the task force provider Berlin , to take over and continue. On March 30th the frigate  Karlsruhe (F 212) replaced  the corvette  Ludwigshafen am Rhein  . On June 16, 2016, the Karlsruhe was removed from the mission. On June 19, 2016, she became the new flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two ( SNMG 2 ) in the eastern Aegean . She and Frankfurt am Main were replaced by the Werra tender and the Datteln mine-hunting boat (M1068) , which left their home port of Kiel together on June 20, 2016.

On September 14, 2016, the frigate Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania replaced the dates in the port of Augusta ( Sicily ). Your commander, Frigate Captain Christian Schultze, became contingent leader of the 4th  German contingent EU NAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA . He succeeded frigate captain Torsten Eidam.

On October 17, 2016, the tender Main (A 515) belonging to the 1st submarine squadron ran out of Eckernförde under the command of Lieutenant Christian Meyer . It replaced the Werra tender in action on October 30th.

On December 14, 2016, frigate captain Uwe Maaß took over the leadership of the German forces as contingent leader of the 5th contingent. Following this, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was removed from the mission and returned to Wilhelmshaven on December 23.

On March 21, 2017, the Rhine tender set out from its home port of Kiel under the command of Corvette Captain Marco Reinisch. It replaces the Main tender in action. The contingent change took place in the port of Augusta (Italy) on April 5, 2017 . Corvette captain Reinisch also took over the task of contingent leader of the 6th contingent.

On May 1st, the German Tender Rhein together with the Lithuanian boarding command was able to stop a ship that was supposed to smuggle weapons and ammunition to Libya and destroy the contraband for the first time in the history of the operation . In April the Rhine rescued  over 1000 people, and on July 12, 2017, another 919 people from distress at sea. The Lithuanian boarding team embarked on board the tender and an accompanying German field intelligence team carried out 4 boardings .

On August 16, 2017, the frigate Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania took over the mission of the tender Rhine in the Mediterranean in the Sicilian port of Augusta . At the same time, the command of the contingent was handed over from Corvette Captain Marco Reinisch to Frigate Captain Christian Schultze, the commander of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania . On September 13, 2017, the frigate rescued 134 people from distress at sea. On October 25, the frigate rescued 158 people from distress, and on November 2, 2017, another 323 people. A woman from Nigeria gave birth to a boy on board on November 3, 2017, with the help of the ship's doctor team . According to media reports, on November 1, 2017, a patrol boat of the Libyan coast guard carried out an aggressive sea maneuver in the immediate vicinity of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ; the head of the Libyan coast guard, Commodore Abdalh Toumia, later apologized. In mid-January 2018, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was removed from the mission after five months in the area and a total of 700 rescued people. The 8th German contingent has since been provided by the frigate Sachsen under the leadership of frigate captain Mirko Wilcken, who also became the new contingent leader.

On May 2, 2018, the Mosel tender took over the mission from the frigate Sachsen . The tender and its crew are scheduled to be used for 5 months. The new contingent leader of the German contingent was frigate captain Ralph Grabow.

See also

literature

Abbreviations in web links and individual references

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Kai Küstner: EU Mediterranean Mission: EU decides to expand “Sophia”. In: tagesschau.de . North German Radio A. d. Publicly , May 23, 2016, accessed on May 23, 2016 .
  2. ↑ http://statewatch.org/news/2015/jun/eu-eeas-crisis-in-med-statement.pdf
    Archived copy ( Memento from June 24, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ a b Decision (CFSP) 2015/1772 of the Political and Security Committee of September 28, 2015 regarding the transition to the second phase of the EUNAVFOR MED operation in accordance with Article 2 (2) (b) (i) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a Military operation of the European Union in the south-central Mediterranean Sea (EUNAVFOR MED) (EUNAVFOR MED / 2/2015) , accessed on June 20, 2016 . In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 258 of October 3, 2015, ISSN 1977-0642 , pp. 5-6, here in particular Article 1. Online in: EUR-Lex . European union .  
  4. ↑ a b c d e Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 of May 18, 2015 on a military operation of the European Union in the south-central Mediterranean Sea (EUNAVFOR MED), as amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1926 of May 26, 2015. October 2015 [Consolidated Version ] , accessed June 21, 2016 . In: Official Journal of the European Union . ISSN 1977-0642 , L 122 of May 19, 2015, pp. 31-35 i. V. m. L 281 of October 27, 2015, p. 13, here Articles 1 and 2. Online in: EUR-Lex . European union .  
  5. ↑ Arnd Henze: Armed hunt for smugglers. ( Memento from September 6, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) In: tagesschau.de . Norddeutscher Rundfunk , September 4, 2015, accessed on June 16, 2016.
  6. ↑ Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the current status of the implementation of the priorities within the framework of the European Agenda on Migration. COM (2016) 85 final , accessed June 21, 2016 . In: EUR-Lex . European Union , February 10, 2016, Chapter II.1 1st section 2nd paragraph.
  7. ↑ Markus Becker, Matthias Gebauer: Sophia: EU wants to expand military mission in front of Libya. In: spiegel.de . SPIEGEL ONLINE , May 19, 2016, accessed June 20, 2016.
  8. ^ Security Council Authorizes Inspection of Suspected Embargo-Breaking Vessels off Libya's Coast, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2292 (2016) . In: un.org . United Nations , June 14, 2016, accessed July 11, 2016.
    Statement by the HR / VP Federica Mogherini on the adoption of Resolution 2292 by the UN Security Council. In: eeas.europa.eu . (EEAS) Abbr. , (English) June 14, 2016, accessed on June 21, 2016.
    Florian Manthey: Stop arms smuggling to Libya: Security Council sets the course . In: bmvg.de . Federal Ministry of Defense , June 15, 2016, accessed on July 11, 2016.
    EU to enforce arms embargo on Libya . In: tagesschau.de . Norddeutscher Rundfunk , June 15, 2016, accessed on July 11, 2016.
    German Armed Forces on a smuggler hunt in Libya? . In: tagesschau.de . Norddeutscher Rundfunk, June 15, 2016, accessed on July 11, 2016.
    Mandate for EU military operations off Libya extended . In: Handelsblatt Online. Retrieved June 15, 2016, same day.
  9. ↑ EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia: mandate extended by one year, two new tasks added. In: consilium.europa.eu . Official website of the Council of the EU and the European Council , (press release) June 20, 2016, accessed June 21, 2016.
  10. ↑ Einsatz.Bundeswehr.de, Against smuggling networks - The use in the Mediterranean , June 30, 2017
  11. ↑ Die Welt, Thomas de Maizière , Marco Minniti , The migration crisis is coped with in Africa , July 12, 2017
  12. ↑ Wieland Schneider: “Need EU help against smugglers”. DiePresse, May 1, 2017, accessed July 8, 2017 .
  13. ↑ EU pays recruits for Libya's coast guard in training money. In: time online. July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017 .
  14. ^ Sudarsan Raghavan: Libya's coast guard abuses migrants despite EU funding and training. Washington Post, July 11, 2017, accessed August 27, 2017 .
  15. ^ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg Germany: Refugees: Italy blocks EU military operations - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Politics. Retrieved July 18, 2017 .
  16. ^ "Naval mission" Sophia "extended to 2018" Deutsche Welle, July 25, 2017
  17. ↑ [derstandard.at/2000061759314/EU-Marinemission-Sophia-duerfte-doch-verlaengert- wird "EU marine mission" Sophia "extended until the end of 2018"] The standard of July 25, 2017
  18. ↑ "" EU ships continue to save from Libya ( Memento from July 25, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) swp.de from July 25, 2017
  19. ↑ https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2018-07/mittelmeer-italien-eu-mission-sophia-fluechtlinge-aufnahme Mediterranean: Italy wants to reject migrants from EU mission ships . Zeit Online, July 20, 2018.
  20. ↑ Robert Birnbaum: What the withdrawal from the refugee mission Sophia means . Tagesspiegel January 24, 2019, accessed July 21, 2019.
  21. ↑ Markus Becker, Matthias Gebauer: Criticism from Bundeswehr officers: Italy sabotaged the rescue of castaways in the Mediterranean . In: Spiegel Online . August 28, 2018 ( spiegel.de [accessed January 23, 2019]).
  22. ↑ "EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia: mandate extended until 30 September 2019" consilium.europa.eu of 29 March 2019
  23. ↑ Operation "Sophia" continues . BMD Defense March 27, 2019, accessed July 21, 2019.
  24. ↑ Saving lives remains a must . Tagesspiegel March 31, 2019, accessed July 21, 2019.
  25. ↑ Christoph von Marschall: "The story of the rescue organizations does not go on" Tagesspiegel.de of July 9, 2019
  26. ^ Extraordinary European Council of 23 April 2015 - Declaration. In: consilium.europa.eu . Official website of the Council of the EU and the European Council , April 23, 2015, accessed June 17, 2016.
  27. ↑ Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 of the Council of May 18, 2015 on a military operation by the European Union in the southern central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) , accessed on June 16, 2016 . In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 122 of May 19, 2015, ISSN  1977-0642 , pp. 31-35. Online in: EUR-Lex . European union .
  28. ↑ Decision (CFSP) 2015/972 of the Council of June 22, 2015 on the initiation of the European Union's military operation in the south-central Mediterranean Sea (EUNAVFOR MED) , accessed on June 16, 2016 . In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 157 of 23 June 2015, ISSN  1977-0642 , p. 51. Online in: EUR-Lex . European union .
  29. ↑ Federica Mogherini : Statement by High Representative / Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the Council decision to launch the naval operation EUNAVFOR Med. In: eeas.europa.eu . (EEAS) Abbreviation (English), 22. Accessed June 16, 2015. Accessed June 16, 2016.
    Federica Mogherini : Opening remarks by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC. In: ec.europa.eu . European Commission , (video) June 22, 2015, accessed June 16, 2016.
  30. ↑ Decision (CFSP) 2015/1926 of the Council of October 26, 2015 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a military operation of the European Union in the southern central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED) , accessed on June 20, 2016 . In: Official Journal of the European Union . L 281 of October 27, 2015, ISSN  1977-0642 , p. 13. Online in: EUR-Lex . European Union ( Consolidated version of Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 of May 18, 2015 on a military operation by the European Union in the south-central Mediterranean Sea (EUNAVFOR MED) [amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1926 of May 26, 2015. October 2015 ] , accessed June 20, 2016 ).
  31. ↑ Legal basis for the deployment of the Bundeswehr in the Mediterranean. In: einsatz.bundeswehr.de . Federal Ministry of Defense , June 9, 2016, accessed on June 17, 2016.
  32. ↑ Application by the Federal Government to involve armed German forces in the EU operation EUNAVFOR MED as part of the overall EU initiative to prevent the business model of people smuggling and trafficking networks in the southern and central Mediterranean. Bundestag printed paper 18/6013 of September 16, 2015. In: Documentation and Information System - German Bundestag  - dipbt.bundestag.de . German Bundestag , (PDF; 649 KiB), accessed on June 20, 2016; Basic information about the process .
  33. ^ German Bundestag. Shorthand report. 124th meeting. Berlin, Thursday, September 24, 2015. Plenary minutes 18/124. In: Documentation and Information System - German Bundestag  - dipbt.bundestag.de . German Bundestag , pp. 12052–12061, (PDF; 2.1 MiB), accessed on June 20, 2016.
  34. ↑ Foreign Committee : Recommendation for a resolution and report by the Foreign Committee (3rd committee) on the Federal Government's application - Printed matter 18/6013 - Participation of armed German armed forces in the EU operation EUNAVFOR MED as part of the overall EU initiative to stop the business model of people smuggling - and human trafficking networks in the southern and central Mediterranean. Bundestag printed paper 18/6189 of September 29, 2015. In: Documentation and Information System - German Bundestag  - dipbt.bundestag.de . German Bundestag , (PDF; 654 KiB), accessed on June 20, 2016.
  35. ↑ Budget Committee : Report of the Budget Committee (8th Committee) in accordance with Section 96 of the Rules of Procedure on the Federal Government's application - Printed matter 18/6013 - Participation of armed German forces in the EU operation EUNAVFOR MED as part of the overall EU initiative to stop the business model of the People smuggling and trafficking networks in the southern and central Mediterranean. Bundestag printed paper 18/6213 of September 30, 2015. In: Documentation and Information System - German Bundestag  - dipbt.bundestag.de . German Bundestag , (PDF; 614 KiB), accessed on June 20, 2016.
  36. ↑ a b German Bundestag. Shorthand report. 127th meeting. Berlin, Thursday, October 1st, 2015. Plenary minutes 18/127. In: Documentation and Information System - German Bundestag  - dipbt.bundestag.de . Deutscher Bundestag , pp. 12334–12344, 12346, 12417–12418 (PDF; 1.8 MiB), accessed on June 20, 2016.
  37. ↑ Motion for a resolution by MPs Wolfgang Gehrcke, [... and the DIE LINKE parliamentary group on the deliberation of the Federal Government's motion - printed matter 18/6013, 18/6189 - participation of armed German armed forces in the EU operation EUNAVFOR MED as part of the overall EU initiative for Eliminating the business model of people smuggling and trafficking networks in the southern and central Mediterranean. ] Bundestag printed paper 18/6207 of September 29, 2015 (PDF, 640 KiB; basic information on the process )
    Motion for a resolution by the MPs Dr. Frithjof Schmidt, [... and the BÜNDNIS 90 / DIE GRÜNEN parliamentary group on the deliberation of the Federal Government's motion - printed matter 18/6013, 18/6189 - participation of armed German armed forces in the EU operation EUNAVFOR MED as part of the overall EU initiative to prevent it the business model of people smuggling and trafficking networks in the southern and central Mediterranean. ] Bundestag printed paper 18/6208 of September 30, 2015 (PDF, 640 KiB; basic information about the process )
    Both in: Documentation and Information System - German Bundestag  - dipbt.bundestag.de . German Bundestag , accessed June 20, 2016.
  38. ^ Roll- call votes: Bundeswehr mission EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA. In: bundestag.de . German Bundestag , July 7, 2016, accessed on July 8, 2016 .
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  40. ^ "Bundestag extends missions" bmvg.de from June 14, 2018
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  42. ↑ United Nations Security Council : Resolution 2240 (2015) adopted at the 7531st session of the Security Council on October 9, 2015. In: United Nations Electronic Document Archive. United Nations , in particular p. 4 (English; PDF, 57.8 KiB), accessed on June 20, 2016.
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    EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA.
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    The German mine-hunting boat Datteln
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    German warship rescues 615 from the Mediterranean . In: Naval Today . March 17, 2016 (English).
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    Press and Information Center Marine: “Frankfurt am Main” and “Ludwigshafen am Rhein” are leaving their home ports for Operation Sophia. In: Marine. Bundeswehr, January 8, 2016, accessed on January 20, 2016 .
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