Italian national Natalina Cea will from 1 February lead the European Union's Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya, the EU's top decision-making body said in a statement on Thursday.
Cea, an Italian civil servant, will take over from Vincenzo Tagliaferri, who has headed EUBAM since 1 September 2016, the European Council statement said.
EUBAM Libya, a civilian mission deployed within the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, began on 22 May 2013. Its aim is to help Libyan authorities smash organised people trafficking networks that smuggle migrants to Europe and to combat terrorism.
The EUBAM mission works with international partners in the areas of border management, law enforcement and criminal justice, according to the statement.
