Operational Highlights

• Investigated 116 merchant vessels via radio calls (out of 12,606).
• Boarded and inspected 4 suspect vessels with Masters' consent (out of 597).
• Monitored 26 suspect flights (out of 1336).
• Continued to monitor 25 airports and 16 ports (and oil terminals).

Background

Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI was launched on 31 March 2020 to implement the UN arms embargo on Libya.

IRINI is part of the European integrated approach to Libya, which includes political, military, economic and humanitarian efforts to bring stability and security to the country.

Operational Tasks

• Counter illegal arms trafficking, supporting the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya based on the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (core task).
• Gather information on oil smuggling, in particular due to its consequences on the Libyan economy and its possible use to finance the arms market.
• Contribute to the disruption of the migrant smuggling business model by collecting information with aerial assets and sharing it with FRONTEX (The European Border and Coast Guard Agency) and relevant national authorities.
• Support the development of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy's Search and Rescue capacity through training. This task is yet to be implemented.

Operational Results

• Boarded and inspected 26 suspect vessels.
• Seized three cargos assessed to be in violation of the UN arms embargo and diverted the vessels to a port of an EU Member State.
• Investigated 12,606 merchant vessels through request of information via radio calls (hailing).
• Visited 597 vessels upon their Masters' consent (so-called 'friendly approaches').
• Investigated 1,336 suspect flights.
• Monitored 25 airports and 16 ports.
• Provided 49 special reports to the UN Panel of Expert on Libya. Most of these referred to violations or possible violations of the arms embargo and oil smuggling activities in the west and in the east of the country.
• Issued 83 recommendations for inspection of suspect vessels in EU Member States' ports to the relevant Law Enforcement agencies, of which 65 were conducted.

These results have demonstrated IRINI's effectiveness and impartiality.

Notes

* Inspections or friendly approaches are always carried out in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions framework, in full respect of the international law, without undermining the vessels' schedule of activities.

* Data updated up to 1st of January 2024.