Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/993

of 20 June 2016

amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 42(4) and Article 43(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)
On 18 May 2015, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2015/7781.
(2)On 23 May 2016, the Council, in its conclusions on EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA, welcomed the expressed readiness by the President of the Presidency Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord to cooperate with the Union on the basis of those conclusions, agreed to extend the mandate of EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA by 1 year and, while retaining the focus on its core mandate, to add two further supporting tasks:

  • capacity building and training of, and information sharing with, the Libyan Coastguard and Navy, based on a request by the legitimate Libyan authorities taking into account the need for Libyan ownership,

  • contributing to information sharing, as well as implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya on the basis of a new UN Security Council Resolution.

(3)

The UN Security Council imposed, modified and reaffirmed an arms embargo on Libya by UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1970 (2011), 1973 (2011), 2009 (2011), 2040 (2012), 2095 (2013), 2144 (2014), 2174 (2014), 2213 (2015), 2214 (2015) and 2278 (2016).

(4)

On 14 June 2016, the UN Security Council adopted UNSCR 2292 (2016) on the arms embargo on Libya, expressing in particular concern that the situation in Libya is exacerbated by the smuggling of illegal arms and related materiel.

(5)

The Council underlines the urgency to start the operational implementation of the two supporting tasks before the end of the initial mandate of EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA.

(6)

Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: