(1)

On 31 March 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/472, which established and launched a European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) for the period until 31 March 2021.

(2)

Decision (CFSP) 2020/472 provides that, notwithstanding that period, the authorisation of the operation is to be reconfirmed every four months and that the Political and Security Committee (PSC) is to prolong the operation unless the deployment of maritime assets of the operation produces a pull effect on migration on the basis of substantiated evidence gathered according to the criteria set out in the Operations Plan.

(3)

On 11 March 2025, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/488 (2), which extended EUNAVFOR MED IRINI until 31 March 2027, subject to the same reconfirmation procedure.

(4)

On 18 November 2025, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/2451 (3), which reconfirmed the authorisation of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI until 31 March 2026.

(5)

The Operation Commander provided monthly pull factor reports.

(6)

The authorisation of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI should be reconfirmed for the nineteenth four-month sub-period of its mandate and the operation should be prolonged accordingly,