European Union agrees to aid Libyan navy to stop traffickers

The European Union will help rebuild Libya’s shattered navy and coastguard to tackle migrant smugglers after a plea for aid from the new U.N.-backed unity government in Tripoli, EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday.

Details of the aid are still to be worked out but EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said an operational plan should come “in the coming days”.

The ministers said they would need a U.N. Security Council resolution to go after arms traffickers on the high seas, but Monday’s meeting signalled they were determined to stop migrant smugglers by using the EU’s “Operation Sophia” mission in the Mediterranean.

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Via: http://www.defenceweb.co.za/