The EU’s proposal to use military force to stop migrant smugglers is “feasible” but more preparation and planning is needed, according to secret Brussels documents published by Wikileaks.

Two batches of files were released by Wikileaks, which said they formed part of a comprehensive internal dossier on the EU’s plan to use military assets to stop migrant boats leaving Libya.

The EU’s military plan was approved last week and follows the drowning of some 800 migrants in a horrific shipwreck in April. Meant to begin next month, the mission was described by European Commission vice-president Federica Mogherini as aimed at “disrupting smuggling networks”.

It will feature naval vessels and surveillance aircraft being deployed to the southern Mediterranean.

The more significant of the two batches of leaked documents was written by a team of defence chiefs and includes top secret military advice on how best to tackle the migration problem.

Time frames are challenging but achievable

Although it approves of the military plan, it highlights a number of what are considered to be shortcomings that need to be addressed before any naval or surveillance teams are dispatched.

The defence chiefs call for a clear definition of the term “people smuggling” and point to a number of strategic objectives that require clarification.

A legal framework also needs to be developed to set clearer guidelines for officers engaged in missions. While this might seem like an obvious technicality, the defence chiefs illustrate how this might pose problems when in the field. The seizure of smugglers’ vessels, they argue, might depend heavily on national maritime law and the applicability of different UN Security Council resolutions. Ultimately, the defence chiefs argue that the long-term success of the operation will depend heavily on the implementation of a much wider approach to the migration problem.

In their opinion, if a comprehensive approach is not implemented at some point, the effects of any military efforts could be “very limited”. Timing is also of the essence. The defence veterans described the time frames as “challenging but achievable”, depending on the amount of resources ultimately devoted and any delays in the allocation of such assets.

The chiefs insist that great care also needs to be taken when in Libyan waters to avoid creating a perception of having “chosen sides” with the rival political factions vying for control of the country.

The documents also raise the possibility of EU military forces assisting in efforts against groups such as ISIL “within the Libyan sovereign area”.

“The threat to the force should be acknowledged, especially during activities such as boarding and when operating on land or in proximity to an unsecured coastline, or during interaction with non-seaworthy vessels,” the chiefs said.

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