BRUSSELS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Monday kicked off its second package of training for Libyan law enforcers in Greece's Crete island in a bid to stem the inflow of illegal migrants from North Africa and disrupt human trafficking networks.
The training package, which will be delivered throughout 2017 in a variety of locations in the Mediterranean area, was launched by EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia in a maritime training center in Crete, according to a statement of the European External Action Service (EEAS), or the EU's diplomatic service.
Twenty senior Libyan officers at the rank of Captain or Commodore will receive training in areas including maritime legal aspects, human rights and gender awareness, as well as search and rescue operations, the EEAS said.
The second package is a follow-up to the training of basic seamanship delivered in the first package, in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding agreed by the two sides in August 2016.
The first 78 Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy trainees embarked on board the EU training vessels in October 2016.
The overall objective of the training, the EEAS said, is to enhance the Libya's capability to disrupt smuggling and trafficking networks and to save lives and improve security in the country's territorial waters.
