Failure to carry out rescue at sea by EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia

5.2.2019

Question for written answer E-000693-19
to the Commission
Rule 130
Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL)

On 23 November 2018, a boat carrying 25 refugees left the coast of Libya. Soon afterwards it ran out of fuel. The boat drifted back to Libya, reaching Misrata on 4 December 2018. During this period it was sighted by a Spanish reconnaissance aircraft and a helicopter operating under EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA. It was overflown several times but not rescued.

1. What are the reconnaissance capabilities of the Spanish aircraft being used for the operation? Are they able to identify refugee boats from a distance?

2. What emergency rescue cases have Spanish reconnaissance personnel documented so far under EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia? What was the extent of their involvement in the case of the boat which departed on 23 November 2018 and drifted in the middle of the Mediterranean until 4 December 2018?

3. What was the extent of the involvement of Spanish reconnaissance personnel in the case of the refugees who were in distress, were finally rescued by the container ship ‘Nivin’ and were forced at gunpoint to disembark at Misrate on 20 November 2018?