The Council of the European Union expanded the authority of its Border Management Assistance Mission (EUBAM) on Monday to include active support for Libyan authorities in helping to tackle organized criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking humans and terrorism.
The mission's revised mandate will run until 30 June 2020, and the EU has also allocated a budget of € 61,6 million for the period from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020.
"In order to achieve its objectives, EUBAM provides capacity building in the areas of border management, law enforcement and criminal justice." The statement issued by the Council of the EU reads.
According to the statement, the expansion of the EUBAM authorities in Libya responds to a request from the Libyan authorities and is part of the EU's comprehensive approach to support the transition to a democratic, stable and prosperous Libya.
Meanwhile, the European Union decided last Friday to extend Operation Sophia off the Libyan coast for three months to come.
