HELSINKI- The Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has decided that Finland will participate in the EU's military crisis management operation (EUNAVFOR MED) in the Mediterranean Sea. The decision, made on August 7, entails involvement in the operation launched in June which aims to prevent human smuggling in accordance with international law.

At this time, Finland will second a maximum of ten soldiers to staff duties for a period of no longer than 12 months.

Plans will continue on the possible participation in the operation with a navy boarding team at a later stage. This will be considered later and a decision on the participation will be made in accordance with the Act on Military Crisis Management. August 7

EUNAVFOR Med works with Frontex, Europol and Eurojust EU agencies.

The mission is part of the European Commission's Agenda on Migration, a response to Italy's appeals for help in dealing with the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

On July 27, the EU naval operation against human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean reached Full Operational Capability (FOC), following June’sdecision by the EU Council to launch the operation.

Naval and air assets have been deployed and logistically supported in the Area of Operation and the Headquarters located in Rome under the lead of Italian Rear AdmiralEnrico Credendino, 52.

The Operational Headquarter is one of the five bases used by the European Union to coordinate its military missions.

At the momentEUNAVFOR MED can count on fournaval units (the Italian flagship “Cavour”, one British and two German ships) and five air assets (oneFrench and one Luxembourgplane, oneBritish and twoItalian helicopters).

In its first phase, EUNAVFOR Med performs information gathering and patrolling on the high seas to support the detection and monitoring of smuggling networks which is of vital importance for the later phases of the operation.

EUNAVFOR Med, established on 18 May 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.

The mission is focused on smuggling and trafficking activities with the aim to disrupt their capabilities and business model.