U.N. welcomes EU migrant plan, says test is whether lives saved

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations on Friday welcomed the European Union’s plan to triple the size of its naval search mission in the Mediterranean, but said the key test was whether lives were saved and those fleeing war had a chance of gaining asylum. The EU’s assurances meant the operation would have capacity, resources and scope comparable to Italy’s Mare Nostrum, which was ended six months ago, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said. “UNHCR believes they are an important first step toward collective European action – which is the only approach that can work for a problem of such a large and transnational nature,” spokesman Adrian Edwards told a news briefing. Four days after up to 900 desperate people drowned trying to reach Europe from Libya, EU leaders agreed at an emergency summit on Thursday to restore funding for naval search missions to last year’s level.
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