EU could speed plans to tackle traffickers
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss how to deal with migrant deaths in the Mediterranean.
Source: AAP
THE European Union looks set to almost triple its funding to the
bloc's maritime patrol missions in the Mediterranean, bringing their
budgets into line with Italy's disbanded Mare Nostrum search and rescue
operation, sources say.
ADDITIONAL funds pledged by leaders at a Brussels summit on
Thursday "would get us close to Mare Nostrum," an EU source said on
condition of anonymity.The bloc has been criticised for spending less on its sea patrols than the Italian authorities. The leaders are also expected to task EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini with preparing an "operation against traffickers," the source said. But this preparatory work would likely take several months, while several EU countries say such a mission would require a UN Security Council resolution, he added. Plans have been floated to seize and destroy boats used by human traffickers. This comes as only 24 bodies have been recovered from what is considered the worst migration tragedy in the Mediterranean. The UN agency for refugees, UNHCR, estimates that more than 800 migrants died at the weekend after a boat capsized 130 kilometres north of Libyan shores. "This is no longer only a problem of Italy or of Malta but a question of human rights, of justice and security," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a pre-summit meeting of Socialist leaders in Brussels. "Our brothers and sisters cannot die in this way." Several countries made offers to boost the EU's two maritime patrol missions in the Mediterranean - Triton in the central Mediterranean, and Poseidon in the east. Germany could send two frigates within five days, army sources told dpa. Belgium offered one ship and satellite equipment, while Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Dublin could provide a "fully crewed and equipped naval vessel." Britain would offer its Royal Navy ship, HMS Bulwark, as well as three helicopters and two other border patrol ships, Prime Minister David Cameron said. The EU is also mulling plans to work with migrants' countries of origin and transit in a bid to stem the flow. More controversial ideas include setting up asylum-processing centres in North Africa and using quotas to distribute refugees among EU states. EU leaders were also considering plans for a military mission targeting boats used by smugglers. However, many questions remain open regarding such an operation, including whether it would require a United Nations mandate. A senior Libyan politician warned the bloc against military action, in comments to the Times of Malta newspaper. "You cannot just decide to hit," said Mohammed al Ghirani, the foreign minister of Tripoli's non-internationally recognised government, which is fighting rival institutions in Tobruk that have international legitimacy. "Let's say you strike a particular site," al Ghirani said. "How will you know that you did not hit an innocent person, a fisherman? Does Europe have pinpoint accuracy?"
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