over 29,300 persons in 200 rescue operations and had supported other organizations in the rescue of more than 41,200 persons.19 Rescued migrants are disembarked in Italy.20 In October 2015, the Security Council authorized Member States to inspect and seize vessels in the Mediterranean that are suspected of being used for migrant smuggling or human trafficking.21 The authorization was extended for a further year following the adoption of resolution 2312 on 6 October 2016. The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union decided on 20 June to add two supporting tasks to the mandate, effectively allowing it to contribute to the capacity building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy and the implementation of the United Nations arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya. Following a request for support from the Libyan authorities, an initial training course took place in October and November 2016 on board two naval assets on the high seas for 78 embarked trainees and their mentors. 22 Following a vetting procedure undertaken by the European Union, participants received training in seamanship, coast guard skills, and international human rights and refugee law, the latter with the support of UNHCR. Operation Sophia forms one element of the migration strategy of the European Union23. The strategy also includes, inter alia, a partnership framework approach with countries of origin and transit24; the delivery of capacity-building programmes to the Libyan Government; and support for the work of United Nations organizations in the region, including IOM and UNHCR, as well as to other international organizations and non-governmental organizations operating in Libya. In recent months, some senior government officials in Europe have suggested that refugees and asylum seekers should be held in camps in Libya or elsewhere in North Africa. In September 2016, the Prime Minister of Hungary was quoted as saying that the European Union should establish a “giant refugee city” in Libya to process asylum seekers from Africa before they reach Europe.25 In October, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom reportedly said that boats 19 See “EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia starts training of Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy”, press release, 27 October 2016”, https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/13195/eunavformed-operation-sophia-starts-training-of-libyan-navy-coast-guard-and-libyan-navy_en 20 Rescues are also undertaken by the Italian Coast Guard, non-governmental organizations such as Sea Watch and MSF, and merchant vessels among others. 21 Security Council resolution 2240, adopted on 9 October 2015, authorized Member States to inspect and seize vessels suspected of migrant smuggling and trafficking for a period of one year. 22 See “EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia starts training of Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy”, press release, 27 October 2016”, https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/13195/eunavformed-operation-sophia-starts-training-of-libyan-navy-coast-guard-and-libyan-navy_en 23 See Communication on a European Agenda on Migration, COM(2015) 240 final of 13.05.2015, available at http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/index_en.htm 24 See Communication on establishing a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration, COM (2016) 385 final of 07.06.18, available at http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/whatwe-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/proposal-implementationpackage/docs/20160607/communication_external_aspects_eam_towards_new_migration_ompact_en.pdf 25 See “Hungary PM suggests giant migrant city in Libya”, BBC News, 24 September 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37463386 7