UN extends EU naval force’s mission to inspect vessels off Libya

BY Libyan Express Oct 04, 2018 - 18:18

Photo by Italian Navy / Marina Militare/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The United Nations Security Council renewed a programme that allows a European Union naval force to search and seize vessels off the coast of Libya that are believed to be trafficking migrants to Europe.

Proposed by the UK, all 15 members of the Security Council voted in favour of the extension on Wednesday afternoon.

The programme will remain in force until 3 October 2019.

The resolution calls for “an end to the ongoing proliferation of, and endangerment of lives by, the smuggling of migrants and trafficking of persons in the Mediterranean Sea”.

It gives countries and agencies the ability to intercept, search and seize vessels that are believed to be smuggling migrants between Africa and Europe.

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