Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2022/1295 of 19 July 2022 on the reconfirmation of the authorisation of the European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI/3/2022)

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 that 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 26 March 2021, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/542⁽²⁾, extending the operation until 31 March 2023, subject to the same reconfirmation procedure.

4. The Operation Commander provided monthly pull factor reports.

5. The authorisation of the operation should be reconfirmed for the eighth four-month sub-period of its mandate and the operation should be prolonged accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: