June 2023 update - Search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights
- Introduction
- 1 NGO ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations
- 2 Legal proceedings against civil society actors involved in SAR operations
- 3 International and EU legal framework on SAR at sea
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Annex: Legal proceedings by EU Member States against civil society actors involved in SAR operations in the Mediterranean Sea
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Italy
- Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – operational
- Open Arms, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – operational
- Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranée – operational
- Aita Mari, operated by Salvamento Marítimo Humanitario – operational
- Astral, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – under maintenance
- Louise Michel, operated by M.V. Louise Michel – under maintenance
- Mare Jonio, operated by Mediterranea Saving Humans – under maintenance
- Sea-Eye 4, operated by Sea-Eye – blocked at port
- Aurora, operated by Sea Watch – blocked at port
- Sea-Watch 4, operated by Sea-Watch in collaboration with MSF – not operational
- Sea-Watch 3, operated by Sea-Watch – not operational
- Iuventa, operated by Jugend Rettet – not operational
- Alan Kurdi, operated by Sea-Eye – no longer operational
- Vos Hestia, operated by Save the Children – not operational
- Vos Prudence, operated by Médecins sans frontières (MSF) – not operational
- Moonbird, reconnaissance aircraft operated by Sea Watch with Humanitarian Pilots Initiative – not operational
- Alex Mediterranea, operated by Mediterranea Saving Humans – no longer operational
- Eleonore, operated by Mission Lifeline – not operational
- Aquarius, operated by SOS Mediterranée with MSF – not operational
- Golfo Azzurro, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – not operational
- Spain
- Germany
- The Netherlands
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Malta
- Lifeline, operated by Mission Lifeline – not operational
- Sea-Eye, operated by Sea-Eye – not operational
- Seefuchs, operated by Sea-Eye – not operational
- Sea-Watch 3, operated by Sea-Watch – not operational
- Moonbird, reconnaissance aircraft operated by Sea-Watch with Humanitarian Pilots Initiative – operational
-
Italy
- About this publication
Introduction
The International Organization for Migration has estimated that from 2014 to 1 September 2023, over 28,100 people died or went missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life.
This paper provides an overview of criminal investigations and other legal proceedings in selected European Union (EU) Member States against civil society organisations deploying search and rescue (SAR) vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean and/or against individual crew members. Since 2018, national authorities have begun administrative and criminal proceedings against crew members or vessels involved in SAR operations at sea.
FRA published a note in October 2018 on Fundamental rights considerations: NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and criminal investigations. Since then, the Agency has been publishing regular updates on NGO ships involved in SAR operations, the status of legal proceedings against them and on rescue vessels kept at sea for more than 24 hours while waiting for a safe port.