A/HRC/29/36 Frontex, started its activities in the Central Mediterranean in support of the Italian efforts on 1 November 2014.18 20. Whilst Operation Triton has been dubbed as a replacement for Mare Nostrum, the reality is more complex. When Mare Nostrum was launched there were two Frontex joint operations in existence and dialogue was on going about further community support. In 2014, the Italian Government started to lobby other EUMS for financial and technological support for an “exit strategy” from Mare Nostrum. Alongside this lobbying, other EUMS were trying to build support for additional resources for Frontex to support rescue at sea. As the concept of a Frontex joint operation developed there was significant confusion about the relationship between such a mission and the existing efforts of the Italian Government. It became clear that Frontex was not prepared to provide an operation as comprehensive as Mare Nostrum because of the high costs and that Operation Triton whilst providing SAR services would have much more of a focus on border management. 19 21. With the support of 18 EUMS, as well as a number of EU agencies and international organisations, and a monthly budget of around EUR 2.9 million, Operation Triton was launched in November 2014. Despite reported disagreement about the continuation of Mare Nostrum within Italy and pressure from human rights organisations, the Italian Government ceased their SAR services but contributes to Operation Triton. 20 22. Operation Triton covers a narrower geographic focus but coordinates the deployment of 2 fixed wing surveillance aircrafts, 3 patrol vessels, 2 coastal patrol vessels, 2 coastal patrol boats and 1 helicopter in order to assist Italy in coping with the on-going migratory flows. In addition, Italian assets form part of the operation. Five debriefing teams are deployed to support the Italian authorities in collecting intelligence on the peoplesmuggling networks operating in origin and transit countries as well as two screening teams. 23. The core objective of the Triton operation is to provide assistance to the Italian authorities’ efforts to ensure effective surveillance of the maritime borders and in addition provides assistance to any person on board a vessel in distress. 21 Figures published by the European Commission on January 13 2015 indicated that since the launch of the Triton joint operation on 1 November 2014, the participating authorities have dealt with 130 incidents of which 109 were SAR cases. 16,402 people were detected, including 15,325 persons found on boats in distress. In addition to that, 57 facilitators were arrested. The EU has cited the operation as an example of solidarity and best practice sharing between Member States.22 European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) 24. The EUROSUR legislation discussed in became formally operational on 1 December 2013. It is designed to improve the information exchange and cooperation between border control authorities and will involve increased surveillance of the European Union’s sea and land borders using a vast array of new technologies, offshore sensors and satellite tracking systems. Its “smart borders package”, will create one of the world’s largest 18 19 20 21 22 Europa, 2015, “Questions and Answers: Smuggling of Migrants in Europe and the EU response”. European Commission, 2015, “Reply by DG Migration and Home Affairs to the questions by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants”. Carrera, S & den Hertog, L, CEPs, 2015, “Whose Mare? Rule of law challenges in the field of European border surveillance in the Mediterranean”. Carrera, S & den Hertog, L, 2015, “Whose Mare? Rule of law challenges in the field of European border surveillance in the Mediterranean”. Europa, 2015, “Questions and Answers: Smuggling of Migrants in Europe and the EU response. 29