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Juli
2024

Search and rescue operations and fundamental rights - June 2024 update

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights regularly collects data on the operations of NGO vessels involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean. This includes any legal proceedings against them, as well as any difficulties in disembarking migrants in safe ports. This paper provides an overview of criminal investigations and other legal proceedings initiated by European Union (EU) Member States against civil society organisations deploying search and rescue vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean and/or against individual crew members. The latest update covers the period from 2018 up until the end of May 2024.

After Italy ended its Mare Nostrum rescue programme in the Central Mediterranean in 2014, civil society organisations started deploying SAR vessels and reconnaissance aircraft, rescuing a significant number of migrants and asylum seekers in distress at sea.

In August 2014, the organisation Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) deployed the vessel, Phoenix. Since then, several civil society organisations have deployed a total of 41 rescue vessels and four reconnaissance aircraft, mainly in the Central Mediterranean. These assets seek to reduce fatalities and bring rescued people to safety in the EU.

At the end of May 2024, 17 vessels and three aircraft were still deployed; the rest had discontinued operations. Eight of the deployed vessels were under maintenance and not currently operational (Aita Mari, Louise Michel, Open Arms, Astral, ResQ People, Imara, Mare Jonio, and Sea Punk).