Bert Koenders

The suspect in his capacity of the Foreign Minister had a crucial role in the implementation of migration policies and the promotion of Dutch point of view on the European and international arena (See Netherlands Report, Foreign Ministry).

A curbing of migration flows and a reinforcement of the EU agency Frontex was at the core of their policy goals and before assuming the position of President of the Council, the suspect with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a program that also highlighted this agenda. (See Netherlands Report, Presidency of the Council of the EU (January – June 2016).

The Dutch government, and therefore, the suspect as assumed the Presidency of the European Council from January to June 2016. As such, it oversaw the decision to extend the mandate of Sophia to include capacity building and training of Libyan coastguards in June 2016 (See Netherlands, Presidency of the Council of the EU (January–June 2016).

A German government source reported that the Dutch Presidency led a powerful Presidency and was agenda-setting on migration issues (See Council of the EU, Dutch Presidency).

In May 2016, during its Presidency, the suspect paid a visit to Tripoli where he met with Libyan Prime Minister Al-Sarraj and the Libyan coastguard. With the latter he “joint action to tackle people smuggling and [migration management].” The Presidency programme also underlined that cooperation with third countries was essential. (See Netherlands Report, Presidency of the Council of the EU (January – June 2016).

A month later, the Netherlands and International Organization for Migration Libya (IOM Libya) concluded an agreement “for an 18-month project aimed at enhancing the Libyan coastguard’s capacity to save lives at sea.” This project was provided with a budget of 1.5 million euros and would further equip the coastguard with equipment and technical means. Given that June 2016 marked the official mandate expansion of Operation Sophia to include the training of the Libyan coastguard, it is reasonable to assume that the Netherlands played an active role in this evolution. (See Netherlands Report, Presidency of the Council of the EU (January – June 2016).

A month after the suspect visited Tripoli and met the Libyan Prime Minister al-Sarraj and the Libyan coastguard, the Netherlands and International Organization for Migration Libya (IOM Libya) concluded an agreement “for an 18-month project aimed at enhancing the Libyan coastguard’s capacity to save lives at sea.” This project was provided with a budget of 1.5 million euros and would further equip the coastguard with equipment and technical means. Given that June 2016 marked the official mandate expansion of Operation Sophia to include the training of the Libyan coastguard, it is reasonable to assume that the Netherlands played an active role in this evolution. (See Netherlands Report, Presidency of the Council of the EU (January–June 2016).