Sea-Watch renews calls to end EU funding for Libyan Coast Guard

The Sea-Watch organisation has welcomed a Naples court ruling overturning the detention of its rescue vessel, Sea-Watch 5, saying humanitarian groups must not be punished for refusing to comply with orders to forcibly return migrants and refugees to Libya.

In a series of posts on X on November 5, the organisation said the court’s decision, delivered in October 2026, reaffirmed that refusing to carry out illegal orders should not attract punishment.

“Libya is not a safe place. No one should be prosecuted for refusing to forcibly return people there,” Sea-Watch said.

The organisation also criticised the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, describing it as a group of militias funded by the European Union.

According to Sea-Watch, the group forcibly returned more than 27,000 people to Libya in 2025, where the United Nations has reported the commission of crimes against humanity.

“We will not make ourselves accomplices to crimes against humanity,” Giulia Messmer, quoted by the organisation, said.

Sea-Watch reiterated its demands for the repeal of the Piantedosi Decree, an Italian measure affecting the operations of humanitarian rescue vessels, and an end to European funding for the so-called Libyan Coast Guard.

It also called on European authorities to allow humanitarian rescue ships to carry out their operations without restrictions.

Marking one year of the #JusticeFleet campaign, the organisation said it remained committed to challenging policies that undermine migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

“One year of #JusticeFleet, and we will not give up,” Sea-Watch said.