Lithuanian officer begins service in new naval EU operation in Rome

The posting duration is planned to be till the end of the year depending on the needs of the operation.

“Our involvement in the new EU naval operation is our contribution to the common European Union immigration policy aimed at preventing illegal immigration and human smuggling in the Mediterranean and at the same time – senseless losses of human lives,” Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said.

The Lithuanian officer has been assigned to the operation in line with a standard procedure of launching an operational headquarters at the same time as the operation where the leading nation, Italy in this case, summons its pre-designated and pre-trained staff from across the EU.

The goal of the new EU operation EUNAVFOR is to disrupt the activities of illegal migrant trafficking and smuggling in the Mediterranean and to cut down illegal immigration to Europe. The decision to launch the operation was taken at the Council of the EU on 18 May.