The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met today with the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos. They discussed the coordination between NATO and the European Union regarding the decision taken by NATO Defence Ministers to support the response to the migration and refugee crisis in Europe. They expressed their commitment to full cooperation between NATO and the EU on this issue.
The operational details and framework of cooperation will be developed in the coming days.
NATO ships have already been deployed in the Aegean Sea. The purpose of the NATO deployment is not to push back migrants, but to contribute surveillance and critical information to help Allies and the European Union deal with migrant smuggling and criminal networks.
Both NATO and the EU will continue regular contacts on this issue.
The NATO Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) is deployed in the Aegean Sea with 5 ships: 1 Oiler (FGS BONN, from Germany as a flagship) and 4 frigates, one from Turkey (TCG BARBAROS), one from Canada (HMCS FREDERICTON), one from Greece (HS SALAMIS), and one from Italy (ITS LIBECCIO).