EU To Define 'Rules of Engagement' For Intercepting People-smuggling Boats

EU officials are set to draft rules of engagement for intercepting people smuggling vessels in the Mediterranean Sea.

The interception is part of the  Phase two of the anti-people smuggling project of the EU which "provides for the search and, if necessary, diversion of suspicious vessels" in international waters and is expected to start in mid-October.

The operation that is expected to start in mid-October, must be approved by EU ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee before EUnavfor Med switches up a gear, EU Observer reported today.

On Wednesday, EU countries will pledge more naval assets for the operation. The "force generation conference", to take part in Brussels under the auspices of the EU external action service follows the ministers' approval on Monday to 'phase two' of "EUnavfor Med".

An internal EU document on the project, seen by EUobserver in May, stated that "Non-compliant boarding operations against smugglers in the presence of migrants, has a high risk of collateral damage including the loss of life".

The operation currently has eight vessels, including two submarines, and several aircraft from 14 member states.

Phase one consists of "surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks" and started in June.

Phase three "would allow the disposal of vessels and related assets, preferably before use, and to apprehend traffickers and smugglers" also in Libyan waters and on Libya's coasts.