EU prepares plan to target immigrant smugglers

BRUSSELS, May 13 (UPI) -- The European Union is preparing an aggressive new plan to stop the flow of immigrants to Europe from North Africa.

A two-day summit, beginning June 25 is expected to back and possibly formally approve, an operation which could involve the destruction of empty boats used to smuggle immigrants to Europe, in international waters and in Libyan ports. Earlier this week the EU sought the approval of the United Nations to use military force to destroy the boats.

After nearly 900 people died in April when a boat sunk near the Libyan coast, EU leaders said rescue operations and a crackdown on gangs organizing the smuggling would accelerate, agreeing to triple funding for increased border control operations and rescue efforts. As warm weather approaches, this will also likely increase the number of immigrants attempting the risky crossing of the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been charged with the task of organizing "systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers."

The proposed plan calls for a naval operation with the authority to destroy traffickers' boats, as well as the boats' interception as they enter international waters. NATO could be called upon to provide intelligence information. At the United Nations, Mogherini noted the EU did not seek "a military solution and no one is talking about bombing."

Libya's Gen. Khalifa Haftar has said his country would not cooperate with the EU plan.

"The crucial thing for the EU is destroying the business model of the trafficking and smuggling organization. Making sure that the vessels cannot be used again, making sure that the assets of these organizations are destroyed," Mogherini said.