EU moves to extend its Mediterranean naval mission and point it at the shadow fleet

EU ambassadors approved a revised mandate for Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI on 30 September, European Pravda reports, citing Euronews. The mission was set up in 2020 to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya and was due to close in March 2027. The draft extends it to 31 March 2029 with a budget of about €16.88 million and adds countering Russia's shadow fleet and protecting subsea infrastructure to its tasks. Finance ministers are expected to adopt it formally on 9 October. IRINI already inspected the tanker Toa Payoh in early August to check its nationality and registration.

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