POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2023/1556

of 19 July 2023

on the reconfirmation of the authorisation of the European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI/2/2023)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 of 31 March 2020 on a European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) (1), and in particular Article 8(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 31 March 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/472, which established and launched a European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) for the period until 31 March 2021.

(2) Article 8(3) of Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 provides that, notwithstanding this period, the authorisation of the operation is to be reconfirmed every four months and that the Political and Security Committee is to prolong the operation unless the deployment of maritime assets of the operation produces a pull effect on migration on the basis of substantiated evidence gathered according to the criteria set out in the Operations Plan.

(3) On 20 March 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/653 (2), extending the operation until 31 March 2025, subject to the same reconfirmation procedure.

(4) The Operation Commander provided monthly pull factor reports.

(5) The authorization of the operation should be reconfirmed for the 11th four-month sub-period of its mandate and the operation should be prolonged accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The authorisation of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI is hereby reconfirmed and the operation is prolonged from 1 August 2023 to 30 November 2023.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 19 July 2023.

For the Political and Security Committee

The Chairperson

D. PRONK

(1)  

OJ L 101, 1.4.2020, p. 4

.

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/653 of 20 March 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 on the European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) (

OJ L 81, 21.3.2023, p. 27

).