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EU mission 'failing' to disrupt people-smuggling from Libya EU mission 'failing' to disrupt people-smuggling from Libya
(35 minutes later)
The EU naval mission to tackle people smuggling in the central Mediterranean is failing to achieve its aims, a British parliamentary committee says.The EU naval mission to tackle people smuggling in the central Mediterranean is failing to achieve its aims, a British parliamentary committee says.
In a report, the House of Lords EU Committee says Operation Sophia does not "in any meaningful way" disrupt smugglers' boats.In a report, the House of Lords EU Committee says Operation Sophia does not "in any meaningful way" disrupt smugglers' boats.
The destruction of wooden boats has forced the smugglers to use rubber dinghies, putting migrants at even greater risk, the document says.The destruction of wooden boats has forced the smugglers to use rubber dinghies, putting migrants at even greater risk, the document says.
Operation Sophia began in June 2015, as the wars in Syria and Iraq fuelled an unprecedented flow of refugees from the Middle East to Europe. Operation Sophia began in June 2015.
At the time the wars in Syria and Iraq were fuelling an unprecedented flow of refugees from the Middle East to Europe.
But the majority leaving Libya - itself wracked by fighting and human rights abuses - are migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.But the majority leaving Libya - itself wracked by fighting and human rights abuses - are migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
EU migration: Crisis in seven chartsEU migration: Crisis in seven charts
Europe migrant crisis - Special ReportEurope migrant crisis - Special Report
The operation was launched in the wake of a series of disasters in which hundreds of migrants drowned while trying to cross from Libya to Italy.The operation was launched in the wake of a series of disasters in which hundreds of migrants drowned while trying to cross from Libya to Italy.
The numbers risking their lives on the Libya-Italy route have been increasing, while the numbers reaching the Greek islands from Turkey have dropped.The numbers risking their lives on the Libya-Italy route have been increasing, while the numbers reaching the Greek islands from Turkey have dropped.
An EU agreement with Turkey to intercept migrant boats in the Aegean Sea and send many migrants back took effect in March.An EU agreement with Turkey to intercept migrant boats in the Aegean Sea and send many migrants back took effect in March.
Last year the EU authorised its vessels to board, search, seize and divert vessels suspected of being used for people smuggling in the central Mediterranean.Last year the EU authorised its vessels to board, search, seize and divert vessels suspected of being used for people smuggling in the central Mediterranean.
Operation SophiaOperation Sophia
Source: EUNavFor Med - Operation Sophia, 13 May 2016Source: EUNavFor Med - Operation Sophia, 13 May 2016
'Responding to symptoms''Responding to symptoms'
The House of Lords report states that "the arrests made to date have been of low-level targets, while the destruction of vessels has simply caused the smugglers to shift from using wooden boats to rubber dinghies, which are even more unsafe".The House of Lords report states that "the arrests made to date have been of low-level targets, while the destruction of vessels has simply caused the smugglers to shift from using wooden boats to rubber dinghies, which are even more unsafe".
It says that there are also "significant limits to the intelligence that can be collected about onshore smuggling networks from the high seas".It says that there are also "significant limits to the intelligence that can be collected about onshore smuggling networks from the high seas".
"There is therefore little prospect of Operation Sophia overturning the business model of people smuggling," the document concludes."There is therefore little prospect of Operation Sophia overturning the business model of people smuggling," the document concludes.
It adds that the mission is still operating out in international waters, and not - as originally intended - in Libyan waters.It adds that the mission is still operating out in international waters, and not - as originally intended - in Libyan waters.
The weakness of the Libyan state is seen by the report's authors as another key factor.The weakness of the Libyan state is seen by the report's authors as another key factor.
They say the absence of a formal invitation from Libya is preventing European Nato members from launching a military intervention, aimed at tackling the threat posed to Libya - and the wider region - by so-called Islamic State.They say the absence of a formal invitation from Libya is preventing European Nato members from launching a military intervention, aimed at tackling the threat posed to Libya - and the wider region - by so-called Islamic State.
"However valuable as a search and rescue mission, Operation Sophia does not, and, we argue, cannot deliver its mandate. It responds to symptoms, not causes.""However valuable as a search and rescue mission, Operation Sophia does not, and, we argue, cannot deliver its mandate. It responds to symptoms, not causes."
The report also urges the EU to urgently develop a strategy aimed at tackling the root causes of mass migration.The report also urges the EU to urgently develop a strategy aimed at tackling the root causes of mass migration.
The mission is named after a baby born on an EU ship that rescued her mother off the coast of Libya in August 2015.The mission is named after a baby born on an EU ship that rescued her mother off the coast of Libya in August 2015.