EU Confirms Launch of Naval Operation Against Mediterranean Traffickers

Two months after the European Union proposed a military response to human trafficking in the Mediterranean, the EUNAVFOR operation was officially launched at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg on June 22. Speaking before the meeting, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said the operation would “attack smugglers and traffickers”. She said “this is only one part of our strategy”.

In the video below, Gen Patrick de Rousiers, chairman of the EU Military Committee, describes the operation’s goals. Credit: European Council