Operation Sophia: WikiLeaks Revealed EU's Classified Information To Combat Refugee Influx
As Europe's migration woes reach a tipping point, European policymakers have been forced to craft a counter-measure to avert the unregulated influx of boats arriving at Europe's Mediterranean shores carrying refugees mostly from underdeveloped as well as war-torn nations in the Middle East and North Africa.
Although nothing new, WikiLeaks released a reportedly classified document titled "EUNAVFOR MED- Operation Sophia" which provided a detailed information of EU's military-led campaign to stem the wave of refugees coming to Europe according to a report by RT News.
In a hindsight, the purported "leaked report" outlined a European-led plan to establish a "reliable" Libyan government to legitimize EU operations in the North African country's territorial waters.
"Through the capability and capacity building of the Libyan Navy and Coastguard we will be able to give the Libyan authorities something in exchange for their cooperation in tackling the irregular migration issue. This collaboration could represent one of the elements of the EU comprehensive approach to help secure their invitation to operate inside their territory during Phase 2 activities," the leaked report said.
Several media organizations had already covered on the so-called "Operation Sophia" since the unveiling of the EU plan in an official statement released 28 September 2015.
"The EU naval operation against human smugglers in the Mediterranean will be able to board, search, seize and divert vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling or trafficking on the high seas, in line with international law," the Council of the European Union stated in a press release as quoted in a report by the International Business Times.
