The Director General of EU Military Staff visits EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia Flagship
On 27 July 2016, the Director General of EU Military Staff, Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, paid his first official visit to the Force Commander on board EUNAVFOR MED Flagship, the Italian light aircraft carrier GARIBALDI 
. The operation SOPHIA Flagship is deployed in the Southern Central Mediterranean Sea as Flagship of EUNAVFOR MED “Operation Sophia”.
Upon his arrival on board, Lt. General Pulkkinen, accompanied by his direct staff, was received by the EUNAVFOR MED Force Commander and the Flag Captain. The Force Commander provided an initial overall update on the achievement of the mission and on the capabilities of the involved assets ; then, along with his staff, he guided the Lieutenant General through the key staff installations on board, presenting the main capabilities of the depending assets.
Thus far, following EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia ’s activities, 82 suspected smugglers and traffickers have been prosecuted by the Italian authorities and 230 boats have been prevented from being re-used by smugglers. Nonetheless, more than 21.000 lives were saved at sea.
Launched last 22 June 2015 with the main objective of undertaking systematic efforts to identify, capture and dispose of vessels used by migrant smugglers or traffickers, EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia has set a wide net of cooperation with main actors currently dealing with migration and with various European Agencies.
Photos on Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHskFeEHcd