European Union Naval Force Mediterranean | |
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Also known as | EUNAVOR MED, Operation Sophia |
Political leader | European Union |
Operation Commander | Rear admiral Fabio Agostini |
Deputy Operation Commander | Rear admiral Jean-Michel Martinet |
Force Commander | Rear Admiral Ettore Socci |
Dates of operation | June 22, 2015 – March 31, 2020 |
Country | European Union |
Motives | Combat illegal migrant smugglers and traffickers |
Colours | Blue, white, and yellow |
Website | Operation Sophia |
Operation Sophia, formally European Union Naval Force Mediterranean (EU NAVFOR Med), was a military operation of the European Union that was established as a consequence of the April 2015 Libya migrant shipwrecks with the aim of neutralising established refugee smuggling routes in the Mediterranean. The operational headquarters was located in Rome. The EU mandate for the operation ended on March 31, 2020. Operation Irini is the successor operation.