European Union nations today approved plans for a naval operation to go after the trafficking networks that send thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean toward Europe and NATO said it is ready to help out if needed.
Two diplomats told the AP the plan was approved by European foreign and defence ministers at meeting in Brussels. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had yet to be officially announced.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she expects the operation could be fully launched next month after the pledging of military equipment and military preparations. At the same time, EU officials would continue looking for a UN resolution that would give EU nations certainty they could fully commit to chasing the traffickers and destroy their boats.
"This is just the beginning of it," Mogherini said. Despite the show of unity on the military action, the EU showed increasing division on the plan for mandatory quotas for member states to take in refugees, with Spain now joining other major EU nations like France and Britain speaking out against it.
The 28-country EU has been under increasing pressure to take action to clamp down on the trafficking networks that's seen thousands die in the waters of the Mediterranean over the past few years.
More than 10,000 people have been picked up alive from the central Mediterranean in recent weeks as they attempted to enter Europe from Libya. The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 1,830 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year compared to 207 in the same period last year.
Mogherini said EU nations can now "move forward with the planning and possibly launch the operation in the coming weeks." Those weeks coincide with the high season for migrant crossings.
Though NATO has not yet been approached for help, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Western military alliance stands "ready to help if there is a request."
Stoltenberg said the alliance, 22 of whose member states also belong to the EU, is also ready to help Libya's government with defense-capacity building "when the situation on the ground allows for that kind of cooperation." He added that he strongly welcomes UN efforts to forge a government of national unity and achieve a cease-fire.
Underscoring the need for action on the traffickers, Stoltenberg said "one of the problems is that there might be foreign fighters, there might be terrorists, also trying to hide, to blend in" on the vessels trying to cross over into Europe.
The EU is looking for UN backing to make its naval operation as comprehensive as possible, especially since any backing from a Libyan government with limited authority on the ground could raise questions, even among EU nations.
