The Council of the European Union has renewed the mandate of the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI until March 31, 2029. The operation announced the renewal on October 13.
The previous mandate was due to expire on March 31, 2027. Under the extension, IRINI takes on three additional responsibilities.
It will help limit the Russian "shadow fleet", strengthen the maritime domain awareness of the EU and its member states, and support efforts to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
"The Mediterranean is a key transit and transfer area for Russia's 'shadow fleet', linking Russian oil exports to international markets and exposing European coastlines to maritime safety and pollution risks," the operation said.
It added that its ships could contribute to constraining these activities, where applicable, through flag-verification boardings conducted under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
IRINI's flagship, the Italian Navy's ITS Thaon di Revel, boarded the EU-sanctioned tanker Toa Payoh west of Pantelleria on August 2. The tanker was not detained. Russia's Foreign Ministry later accused the operation of unlawful inspections.
On August 4, IRINI and the Italian Navy signed a technical arrangement covering coordinated monitoring of undersea cables and pipelines in the Central Mediterranean.
The renewed mandate retains IRINI's original tasks. The operation will continue to bring to light breaches of the UN arms embargo on Libya, as well as illicit oil smuggling, and will keep supporting regional capacity building and training.
