In April 2025, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI continued its operations as part of the European Union integrated approach to Libya. In April 2025, Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI conducted 1 inspection at sea (out of 32) without finding any embargo violations, investigated 288 merchant vessels via radio calls (out of 18.497, and carried out 8 visits on ships with Masters’ consent (out of 719). The Operation also monitored 43 suspect flights (out of 1.870), and continued to monitor 25 airports (and landing strips) and 16 ports (and oil terminals).
© European Union, 2025
After the 1st Berlin Conference, the Council of the European Union decided to launch, on 31 March 2020, a new military operation called EUNAVOR MED IRINI focused on implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya.
IRINI is part of the European Union integrated approach to Libya, which includes political, military, economic and humanitarian efforts to bring stability and security to the country.
The tasks of Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI are:
Since its launch, Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI has boarded and inspected suspect vessels. On three occasions, IRINI seized the cargos assessed to be in violation of the UN arms embargo and diverted the vessels to a port of an EU Member State.
Operation IRINI has also investigated merchant vessels through request of information via radio calls (hailing) and visited vessels upon their Masters’ consent (so-called ‘friendly approaches’*.)
Furthermore, the Operation has investigated:
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provided special reports to the EEAS or UN Panel of Expert on Libya. Most of these referred to violations or possible violations of the arms embargo and oil smuggling activities in the west and in the east of the country.
Finally, through the embedded Crime Information Cell, the operation issued recommendations for inspection of suspect vessels in EU Member States’ ports to the relevant Law Enforcement agencies, of which were conducted.
These results have demonstrated IRINI’s effectiveness and impartiality.
* Inspections or friendly approaches are always carried out in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions framework, in full respect of the international law, without undermining the vessels’ schedule of activities. (data updated up to ).
