EU Agree Military Response To Migrant Smuggling

A former chief of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, says a plan to destroy the boats used to ferry migrants across the Mediterranean is feasible.

EU foreign and defence ministers meeting in Brussels have approved an Italian-led mission to disable the vessels being used by the people smugglers.

The EU will now look to secure a UN Security Council Resolution to conduct military action in Libyan waters.

Lord West says any such operation would be difficult but low risk and would save lives. He added however that the smugglers would very rapidly exploit other routes into Europe. 

Speaking to the BBC he said "I think we could stop then the flow of people trying to get out into the Mediterranean. That will save lives and it will dry up the funding to these dreadful people-smugglers."

"I think also we need to put a huge intelligence effort into the money flows because there is no doubt that Isil and terror groups are getting money out of people-smuggling as well.

 

"I think you need to track the money because that money often ends up in places like London and Switzerland and places like that."