BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union has approved the establishment of a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi as part of efforts to stem irregular migration along one of Europe’s most-trafficked migration routes.
The decision was announced Thursday by the EU Ambassador to Libya, Nicola Orlando, who said that procedures to set up the centre under the EU naval mission, Operation IRINI, have been completed with funding from Italy and Malta.
“Chiusi gli iter per la creazione di un Centro di Coordinamento di Soccorso Marittimo a Bengasi nell’ambito dell’Operazione IRINI, con finanziamento di Italia e Malta,” ha scritto Orlando in un post su X.
The announcement came after a meeting in Rome between Rear Admiral Marco Casapieri, Commander of Operation IRINI, Malta’s Ambassador to Italy Daniel Azzopardi and General Khairy Tamimi, Secretary-General of the Command of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
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Since the NATO-backed uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been a major transit point for migrants trying to make the perilous Mediterranean crossing to Europe.
For some time, the European Union and member states have been training and supporting the Libyan coastguard to intercept migrant boats. Only the Tripoli-based government is formally recognised by the bloc, but it has increased its engagement with authorities in eastern Libya after a surge in migrant departures from areas controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Human rights organisations have criticised the proposed Benghazi rescue centre, warning that enhancing Libya’s maritime capabilities could result in more migrant boats being intercepted and those on board returned to Libya, where the United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly documented abuses against migrants and refugees.
EU officials say cooperation with Libyan authorities is key to improving maritime safety, breaking up human smuggling networks and reducing deaths at sea.
