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July
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.
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- Introduction
- 1. International and EU legal framework on SAR at sea
- 2. NGO ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations
- 3. Legal proceedings against civil society actors involved in SAR operations
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Annex: Legal proceedings by EU Member States against civil society actors involved in search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean Sea (Update June 2024)
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Italy
- Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – operational
- Open Arms, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – under maintenance
- Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranée – operational
- Aita Mari, operated by Salvamento Marítimo Humanitario – under maintenance
- 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 – operational
- Sea-Watch 5, operated by Sea-Watch – operational
- Seabird 1 & 2, reconnaissance aircraft operated by Sea-Watch – operational
- Sea-Watch 4, operated by Sea-Watch in collaboration with MSF – not operational
- Sea-Watch 3, operated by Sea-Watch – not operational
- Humanity 1, operated by SOS Humanity – 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
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Italy
- About this publication
About this publication
© European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2024
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders.
Neither the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights nor any person acting on behalf of the Agency is responsible for the use that might be made of the following information.
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2024
Photo credits (cover):
- Cover: © antomar/AdobeStock
FRA – EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Schwarzenbergplatz 11 – 1040 Vienna – Austria
T +43 158030-0 – F +43 158030-699
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