EUNAVFOR MED Deputy Operation Commander visits the Task Force at sea
In last days EUNAVFOR MED Deputy Operation Commander, Rear Admiral (LH) Hervé BLÉJEAN 
, visited the mission Task Force operating at sea.
Upon arriving on board the Italian light aircraft carrier GARIBALDI , Operation Sophia Flagship, Adm. BLÉJEAN was welcomed by Rear Admiral (LH) Andrea GUEGLIO, EUNAVFOR MED Force Commander, and the Ship Commanding Officer, Captain Massimiliano MARRETTI who accompanied him throughout the ship. Visiting Force Head Quarters’ Staff rooms and meeting with the ship personnel, the Deputy Operation Commander attended several operational briefings and had the chance to witness the real time development and assessment of the tactical situation within the area of operations.
During the visit Adm. BLÉJEAN together with the Force Commander and the Chief of Staff, Captain Abel ROMERO, visited the Spanish frigate CANARIAS and received a “Navy salute” by the Slovenian Patrol Ship TRIGLAV in a close approach to the flagship.
Furthermore Adm. BLÉJEAN attended Epiphany’s Holy Mass celebrated in four languages on board ITS Garibaldi.
After mooring in the port of Augusta, Adm. BLÉJEAN, accompanied by Adm. GUEGLIO, met Sicily Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral (LH) Nicola DE FELICE taking the opportunity to express EUNAVFOR MED gratitude for the constant and priceless logistical support provided to the Task Force units.
EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA , launched on the 22 June 2015, is part of a wider EU’s comprehensive approach to migration, tackling both current symptoms and root causes such as conflict, poverty, climate change and persecution.