The European Union's maritime
patrol operation Triton is ready to take over responsibility on
Saturday from Italy's Mare Nostrum Mediterranean rescue program,
officials said Thursday.
Triton, operated by the EU border agency Frontex, will use
six ships, two airplanes, and one helicopter to patrol for
illegal migrants fleeing from North Africa and the Middle East
to Europe.
But with only one-third of the budget of Mare Nostrum,
officials have said Triton will emphasize border control more
than rescue.
The new operation comes after strenuous pressure from Italy
to take over from the Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) migrant rescue
program that was set up one year ago on an emergency basis after
two boat disasters killed more than 300 migrants.
It is expected that the Italian cabinet on Thursday will
officially end the rescue program.
Triton will have bases on the island of Lampedusa, Italy's
southern-most point where many migrants land; and Porto
Empedocle on the coast of Sicily.
Patrols will also watch the Strait of Sicily and the sea
off the coast of Calabria, while remaining within about 30 miles
of Italian land.
However, rescue operations can exceed that limit if needed
and draw closer to the coast of Libya, which is reportedly a
change from Mare Nostrum's remit.
Equipment has been pledged by countries including France,
Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and non-EU member
Iceland, the BBC has reported on its website
About 150,000 migrants - mostly from northern Africa and
the Middle East - have been rescued by Italian ships in the 12
months since Mare Nostrum began.
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