EUNAVFOR MED: 24 EU Member States part of operation Sophia
After little more than 7 months since the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia 
was launched, today Austria and Portugal join the mission.
The mission starting with the contribution of 14 members States, providing assets and personnel, now reach the number of 24 Member States out of 28, where the European fleet deployed is made up of 6 vessels coming from Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Slovenia and Spain, 4 air assets, land based, coming from Luxembourg, Spain, Greece and France.
EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA, launched on the 22nd of June 2015, has entered its second phase last October 7th. Till now, the Operation contributed to save more than 9000 lives while 48 people have been arrested as possible smugglers and/or traffickers by competent Italian Judicial Authorities following EUNAVFOR MED activities and 76 boats have been removed from illegal organizations’ availability.