EUNAVFOR MED OPERATION IRINI

ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, flagship of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI, carried out a Force Integration Phase (FIT) in the Central Mediterranean alongside the new unit assigned to Operation, the Hellenic Navy frigate HERACLES.

 

The training focused on advanced operational procedures, including frequency shifting, data transfer protocols, and boarding exercises. These activities are essential to ensure seamless coordination at sea, enabling both crews to refine complex tactics and strengthen operational standards within Task Force.

Such exercises demonstrate the European Union’s commitment to maintaining highly trained and interoperable naval forces in the Mediterranean. Constant readiness is a prerequisite for fulfilling the European Union mandate: enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya, countering illicit oil exports, combating human smuggling, supporting the development of Libyan maritime institutions, and enhancing Maritime Situational Awareness in order to protect EU’s interests in the Mediterranean, including the security of critical underwater infrastructure.

 

This activity with the Hellenic Navy illustrates the strong level of interoperability between European partners. It highlights how multinational engagement under the EU framework not only enhances collective maritime security but also underscores EU’s capacity to safeguard stability along its southern borders.