Foreign Affairs Council, 22/06/2015, 22 June 2015

Main results

Migration

The Council launched the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers in the Mediterranean. EUNAVFOR Med is one element of the comprehensive EU response to the migration challenge. The decision enables the start of the operation's first phase, which focuses on surveillance and assessment of human smuggling and trafficking networks. 

The targets of this operation are not the migrants, the targets are human smugglers and traffickers, those who are making money on their lives and too often on their deaths. EUNAVFOR Med is part of our efforts to save lives.  High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said: "The targets of this operation are not the migrants, the targets are human smugglers and traffickers, those who are making money on their lives and too often on their deaths. EUNAVFOR Med is part of our efforts to save lives." 

Russia

The Council extended EU economic restrictions over Russia's role in destabilising Eastern Ukraine until 31 January 2016. This follows an agreement among EU leaders to link the duration of these sanctions to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is foreseen by 31 December 2015.

• Outcome of the Council meeting