Germany has modified its involvement in Operation IRINI to remove support for the Libyan coastguard from the mandate, the European country’s human rights commissioner announced on Friday.
Germany’s human rights commissioner has accused Libya of repeated failings in Mediterranean search and rescue operations, calling it an unreliable partner.
In a statement released Friday via the German Foreign Ministry, Luise Amtsberg said people returned to Libya risk being exposed to abuses and that Germany’s co-operation with the country’s coastguard was untenable. She urged the EU to follow Germany’s lead in ending support for the agency.
“The actions of the Libyan coastguard have shown time and again that Libya is not conforming with human rights standards in the fulfilment of this mandate,” she said.
“International law and human rights are being repeatedly violated at sea and on land. The Libyan coastguard is therefore not a reliable partner for the European Union.”
“From a human rights perspective, co-operation with the Libyan coastguard is therefore untenable,” she said.
“This is one reason why the German government has already modified Germany’s involvement in Operation Irini to remove support for the Libyan coastguard from the mandate.”