Operation Sophia, formally European Union Naval Force Mediterranean (EU NAVFOR Med), was a military operation of the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

that was established as a consequence of the April 2015 Libya migrant shipwrecks with the aim of neutralising established refugee smuggling routes in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

. The operational headquarters was located in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. The EU mandate for the operation ended on March 31, 2020.

Operation Irini The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation Irini (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) was launched on 31 March 2020 with the primary mission to enforce the United Nations arms embargo on Libya due to the Second Libyan Civil War. Operation Irini is a ...

is the successor operation.

Establishment

A European Maritime Force operation to combat people smuggling and prevent loss of life in the Mediterranean stemmed from discussions in the

European Council The European Council (informally EUCO) is a collegiate body (directorial system) and a symbolic collective head of state, that defines the overall political direction and general priorities of the European Union (EU). It is composed of the he ...

on 20 and 23 April 2015, culminating in the issuing of a Council decision on 18 May 2015 to establish a "European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean". Rear Admiral

Enrico Credendino Enrico Credendino (born 21 January 1963) is an officer of the Italian Navy. He was appointed Chief of the Italian Navy in November 2021. He joined the Navy in 1980 and attended the Italian Naval Academy. He commanded the patrol vessel ''Spica ...

of the

Italian Navy The Italian Navy (; abbreviated as MM) is one of the four branches of Italian Armed Forces and was formed in 1946 from what remained of the ''Regia Marina'' (Royal Navy) after World War II. , the Italian Navy had a strength of 30,923 active per ...

was appointed as operation commander. The

Political and Security Committee The Political and Security Committee (PSC; sometimes referred to by its French ''COPS'' acronym derived from ''Comité politique et de sécurité'') is a permanent body within the European Union dealing with Common Foreign and Security Policy is ...

appointed Italian Rear-Admiral Andrea Gueglio as force commander on 17 June 2015, and on 22 June 2015 the European Council approved the launching of EUNAVFOR Med, to take effect that day.

Name

On 24 August 2015, a pregnant Somali woman rescued from a refugee boat by gave birth to a child aboard the , the first child to ever be born aboard a ship of the German Navy. At the suggestion of the attending medical personnel, the child was named Sophia. This was a name associated with German naval ships named ''Schleswig-Holstein'', as the earlier destroyer had used the radio call sign "Sophie X". This was itself a reference to the early battleship , which had been dedicated to Princess Louise Sophie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, as have later ships of the name. EUNAVFORMED was subsequently renamed "Operation Sophia", after the baby born aboard ''Schleswig-Holstein''.

Operation

The operation aims to undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and dispose of vessels as well as enabling assets used or suspected of being used by migrant smugglers or traffickers. The

Juncker Commission The Juncker Commission was the European Commission in office from 1 November 2014 to 30 November 2019. Its President of the European Commission, president was Jean-Claude Juncker, who presided over 27 other commissioners (one from Member state of ...

, in particular the

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) is the chief co-ordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) within the European Un ...

, Federica Mogherini, views this operation as a fundamental contribution to fighting instability in the region and as a way to reduce the loss of lives at sea and increase the security of citizens of the European Union. Operation Sophia consisted of three phases: *The first phase focused on surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean. *The second stage of the operation provided for the search and, if necessary, diversion of suspicious vessels. *The third phase allowed the disposal of vessels and related assets, preferably before use, and to apprehend traffickers and smugglers. There was a common budget of 11.82 million euros for a 12 months period. In addition, military assets and personnel were provided by the contributing states with the running costs and personnel costs being met on a national basis. By 2016, more than 13,000 migrants had been rescued from the sea in the course of the operation. On 20 June 2016, the

Council of the European Union The Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, and less formally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven institutions of the European Union (EU) a ...

extended Operation Sophia's mandate reinforcing it by adding two supporting tasks: training of the Libyan coastguards and navy, and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya. The length of the Operation could be continuously renewed by the Council. On 25 July 2017, the Council of the European Union again extended Operation Sophia's mandate, while also amending its mandate to: setting up a monitoring mechanism of trainees to ensure the long-term efficiency of the training of the Libyan Coastguard, conducting new surveillance activities and gather information on illegal trafficking of oil exports from Libya in accordance with UNSCR 2146 and 2362; and enhancing the possibilities for sharing information on human trafficking with member states' law enforcement agencies, FRONTEX and EUROPOL.

Assets

Military contributions from member states to the operation were voluntary at their own expense. However military operations were carried out under the joint command of the EU.

Ships

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

''Leopold I'' *

''Louise-Marie'' *

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

''L'Adroit'' *

''Aconit'' *

''Courbet'' *

''Commandant Birot'' *

''Commandant Blaison'' *

''Commandant Bouan'' *

''Commandant Ducuing'' *

''Commandant L'Herminier'' *

''Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet'' *

''Premier-Maître L'Her'' *

''Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff'' *

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

''Augsburg'' *

''Karlsruhe'' *

''Mecklenburg-Vorpommern'' *

''Schleswig-Holstein'' *

''Sachsen'' *

''Ludwigshafen am Rhein'' *

''Datteln'' *

''Weilheim'' *

''Main'' *

''Mosel'' *

''Rhein'' *

''Werra'' *

''Berlin'' *

''Frankfurt am Main'' *

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

aircraft carrier ''Cavour'' *

aircraft carrier ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' *

''San Giorgio'' *

''San Giusto'' *

''San Marco'' *

''Zeffiro'' *

FREMM multipurpose frigate The European multi-purpose frigate or FREMM (; ) is a Franco-Italian family of warships designed by Naval Group and Fincantieri. This surface combatant is known in France as the ''Aquitaine'' class (17 units planned, of which 9 were later cance ...

''Luigi Rizzo'' *

''Etna'' *

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

landing platform dock An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD), is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently operat ...

HNLMS ''Rotterdam'' *

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

LÉ ''Samuel Beckett'' *

LÉ ''James Joyce'' *

LÉ ''Niamh'' *

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

''Triglav'' *

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

''Canarias'' *

''Navarra'' *

''Numancia'' *

''Reina Sofía'' *

''Santa María'' *

''Victoria'' *

replenishment oiler A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. Th ...

''Cantabria'' *

''Rayo'' * UK

Type 45 destroyer The Type 45 destroyer, also known as the D or ''Daring'' class, is a class of six guided-missile destroyers built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy in the early 21st century. The class is primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile ...

* UK

Type 23 frigate The Type 23 frigate or Duke class is a class of frigates built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ships are named after British Dukes, thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke class. The first Type 23, , was commission ...

* UK ''Echo''-class survey ship * UK ''Echo''-class survey ship * UK Bay-Class LSDA RFA Mounts Bay

Aircraft

Alouette III SA316B helicopter *

Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft *

Falcon 50 The Dassault Falcon 50 is a French super-midsize, long-range business jet, featuring a trijet layout with an S-duct air intake for the central engine. It has the same fuselage cross-section and similar capacity as the earlier twin-engined Dassau ...

maritime patrol aircraft *

AS565 Panther helicopter *

Sea Lynx MK88 helicopter *

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

Erieye EMB-145H AEW&C command and control aircraft *

Two EH101 helicopters *

T AB 212 ASW helicopter *

SH90 NFH helicopter *

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

Two SW3 Merlin III maritime surveillance aircraft *

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

An-28B1R BRYZA maritime surveillance aircraft *

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft *

AB 212 helicopter *

SH-60B LAMPS III helicopter *

P-3M Orion maritime patrol aircraft *

CN-235 VIGMA-D4 maritime surveillance aircraft * UK AW101 (EH 101) Merlin MK 2 helicopter * UK AW159 Wildcat helicopter * UK Lynx MK 8 helicopter

Criticism

The UK's House of Lords has noted in a report that claims this kind of search-and-rescue operation acts as a ‘magnet to migrants and eases the task of smugglers, who would only need their vessels to reach the high seas’ had some validity. Also the Libyan coastguard has warned that the EU's "Operation Sophia" boosts migrant smuggling, explaining that "People, when they get rescued, call their friends to tell them that there are EU vessels only 20 miles from Libyan waters to save them." In July 2017, a House of Lords report claimed that the mission had been a failure, as it had managed neither to reduce deaths at sea or disrupt the smuggling network.

Completion

In January 2019, the mission was reduced. In February 2020 a new mission was planned to replace the previous one. On 31 March 2020 the new operation EUNAVFOR MED Operation Irini was launched. In parallel, Operation Sophia permanently ceased its activities.

References

External links

EUNAVFOR MEDFactsheet EU navfor med
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sophia, Operation Sophia 2015 in Italy 2015 in the European Union European migrant crisis Naval operations and battles Military history of the Mediterranean