EU establishes Benghazi rescue centre

The European Union has agreed to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in the eastern Libyan city of Libya — Benghazi under Operation Irini, with funding from Italy and Malta. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando on July 30, 2026, following a meeting in Rome attended by Operation Irini commander Rear Admiral Marco Casapieri, Malta's ambassador to Italy Daniel Azzopardi, and General Khairy Tamimi of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The EU aims to curb migrant arrivals on the Central Mediterranean route, one of Europe's busiest migration routes. Libya has been a major transit point since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. The EU has long supported and trained the Libyan coastguard, and while it formally recognizes only the Tripoli-based government, it has increased contacts with eastern authorities as migrant departures from areas controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar have risen. The proposed centre has drawn criticism from rights groups, who argue it could lead to more interceptions and returns to Libya, where abuses against migrants have been documented by the United Nations and others. EU officials say cooperation is necessary to improve maritime safety, combat smuggling, and reduce deaths at sea.