According to an offical statement, the EU mission 'Sophia' has rescued 36,000 migrants and neutralised 440 boats used by traffickers in two years. The mission is to be extended until 2018.
The EU mission Sophia has also handed over 109 alleged migrant smugglers to the Italian judicial authorities and trained 130 Libyan coast guard authorities since it was intoduced two years ago. Commission commander Admiral Enrico Credendino said that Sophia is set to "end its mandate on July 27 and will almost certainly be extended until December 31, 2018".
The admiral said a key issue involves
training Libyan security forces so they are able to combat illegal activities and save human lives. Training will continue in Italy and Spain: the aim is to train 1,000 units within the next 12 months. Now there are also other rebel groups with similar uniforms and it is difficult to distinguish them.
Phase 3 to include entry in Libya
The mission mandate "contemplates moving into Phase 3 with entry to Libya, but only on the invitation of the Libyan government and with a new UN resolution, and the time does not seem to be ripe for this to happen," he added. The commander also alluded to the large number of boats available to migrant smugglers. "A very large number are Chinese dinghies bought legally in internet. An international ban is needed to prevent them from being purchased," he said.