EU to establish Libyan maritime rescue centre to curb illegal arrivals

The announcement followed a meeting in Rome attended by the commander of the EU naval mission Operation IRINI, Rear Admiral Marco Casapieri, Malta’s ambassador to Italy, Daniel Azzopardi, and General Khairy Tamimi, secretary-general of the command of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.

The EU and its member states have long supported and trained the Libyan Coast Guard, which intercepts illegal migrants at sea.

While the EU formally recognises only the Tripoli-based government, it has stepped up contacts with authorities in eastern Libya since last year as illegal migrant departures from areas controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya have risen.