Statement: Commissioner Malmstrom welcomes the launch of the Triton operation

European Commissioner Malmstrom announced on 31 October 2014 that the Triton operation requested by Italy would start on 1 November 2014 as scheduled. Frontex had received sufficient offer of both equipment and border guards from the vast majority of Member States. The Agency was therefore ready to launch this tailored made operation that matched all the requests made by the Italian authorities.

The mission would focus on border control, only carrying out search-and-rescue operations if necessary. Initially employing five aircraft and seven vessels, it was to patrol a zone stretching just 30 nautical miles off Europe's coast at an estimated cost of €2.9m a month.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/609: Frontex Joint Operation 'Triton' – Concerted Efforts for managing migrator flows in the Central Mediterranean http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-609_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Frontex mission to extend just beyond Italian waters http://www.europeansources.info/record/frontex-mission-to-extend-just-beyond-italian-waters/

ESO: Background information: UK axes support for Mediterranean migrant rescue operation http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-axes-support-for-mediterranean-migrant-rescue-operation/

BBC News, 31.10.14: EU migrants: Reduced Mediterranean mission set to go http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29856458

Deutsche Welle, 01.11.14: EU's 'Triton' operation gets underway in Mediterranean http://dw.de/p/1DfRs

Frontex: News, 31.10.14: Frontex launches Joint Operation Triton http://frontex.europa.eu/news/fronted-launches-joint-operation-triton-JSYpL7

FRONTEX: Trends and Routes: Central Mediterranean route http://frontex.europa.eu/trends-and-routes/central-mediterranean-route

The Local.it, 31.10.14: Italy boat rescues 'were not migrant pull-factor' http://www.thelocal.it/20141031/italy-boat-rescues-were-not-pull-factor-for-migrants

Le Monde, 04.11.14: Triton mission can't stop refugee http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE153047-Triton-mission-can-t-stop-refugees

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