EU Extends EUNAVFOR MED IRINI Until March 2029
The EU is set to broaden its Mediterranean naval mission, codenamed EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, until March 2029. Currently scheduled to expire in March 2027, the extension aims to strengthen protection of subsea infrastructure and facilitate naval diplomacy with Northern African countries.
This draft Council decision, obtained by Euronews, outlines a significant expansion of the mission's scope:
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Protection of Infrastructure: Supporting efforts to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure like fiber-optic cables and subsea pipelines.
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Testing New Technologies: Authorizing the operation to pilot and test new technologies for maritime security.
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Enhanced Regional Cooperation: Emphasizing increased cooperation with countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, and Lebanon through naval diplomacy and exercises.
The revised mandate maintains IRINI's existing roles in combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking while introducing these new objectives. The operation will operate under a budget of €16.88 million.
In summary, this extension marks a strategic shift for EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, focusing on broader maritime security and diplomatic initiatives in the Mediterranean region.