EUNAVFOR MED, the European Union’s Naval Force – Mediterranean Operation Sophia is a mobilisation to tackle the root causes of the recent human emergency in the Mediterranean – in cooperation with all the countries of origin and transit, and to fight human smugglers and traffickers. It is a military operation, launched in June 2015. EUNAVFOR Med’s mandate is (1) to contribute to disrupt the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean, and (2) to contribute to reducing the further loss of lives at sea.

Below you find relevant resources:

• Fact Sheet: European Union Naval Force – Mediterranean Operation Sophia (23 March 2016)
• Press Release – Council of the European Union: EUNAVFOR Med: EU agrees to start the active phase of the operation against human smugglers and to rename it “Operation Sophia” (28 September 2015)
• Factsheet on EUNAVFOR MED Mission (September 2015)
• EUNAVFOR Med: Positive outcomes from Phase 2 Force Generation Conference (16 September 2015)
• Press Release: EUNAVFOR Med: Council adopts a positive assessment on the conditions to move to the first step of phase 2 on the high seas (14 September 2015)
• Main results of the General Affairs Council (14 September 2015)
• Council launches EU naval operation to disrupt human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean (22 June 2015)
• Main results of Foreign Affairs Council (22 June 2015)
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/972 launching the European Union military operation in the southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED), OJ L 157/51 (22 June 2015)
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean, OJ L 122 19.5.2015, p.13 (18 May 2015)