EU countries agree to end Operation Sophia — anti-smuggler mission in Mediterranean Sea — and launch new effort to prevent arms flow to Libya
Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, centre, talks to Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio, left, and Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva during a European Foreign Affairs meeting at the Europa building in Brussels, Monday, February 17, 2020.
He said a "political agreement" had been reached to close the operation, launched in 2015 to crack down on migrant smugglers when its mandate expires in March. "If there are no weapons, there's no war. There are thousands of thousands of weapons in Libya," he said.Should the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell consider that migrants are being drawn toward the mission in hopes of being picked up, the "maritime assets will be withdrawn from the relevant area."
"If it creates a 'pull factor,' that is to say, the ships attract migrants, the mission will be stopped."The naval mission, was launched in 2015 amid a wave of migration across the sea from North Africa to Europe.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Libya arms embargo a 'joke', says U.N. officialViolations of an arms embargo in Libya have become a joke and it is imperative t...
Read more »
U.N. says Libya arms embargo a 'joke', demands accountabilityAn arms embargo aimed at curbing fighting in Libya has become meaningless becaus...
Read more »
UN says Libya arms embargo a 'joke', demands accountability'There are violations by land, sea, and air,' UN representative Stephanie Williams says, warning a fragile truce was hanging 'by a thread' as daily life in the country worsens.
Read more »
Libya faces financial crisis due to oil blockade - PMLibya will face a financial crisis and a budget deficit in 2020 because of a blo...
Read more »
Foreign ministers meet in Munich to discuss Libya conflictThe one-day gathering is the first follow-up committee meeting within the Berlin process, seeking unity among international actors to support efforts for a political solution and ceasefire in Libya.
Read more »
Powers renew pledge to uphold Libya arms embargoGermany and the U.N. say countries with interests in Libya's civil war have recommitted themselves to upholding a barely working arms embargo
Read more »