After shots fired at the Sea-Watch 5: Urgent application filed against the German government over failure to take protective measures

Berlin, 7 July 2026 – On 3 July, the Sea-Watch 5 departed for a rescue mission in the central Mediterranean for the first time since it was fired upon in May. At the same time, Sea-Watch filed an urgent application with the Berlin Administrative Court seeking to oblige the German government to take effective measures…

Sea-Watch strongly criticises EU response following attack on Sea-Watch 5

13 May – In response to the attack on the Sea-Watch 5 on Monday, 11 May 2026, the European Commission stated at its press conference on Wednesday, 12 May 2026, that EU cooperation with Libyan actors “prevented further violence.” Sea-Watch condemns this portrayal as a grotesque distortion of reality. Without the political, financial, and operational…

German Ministry of the Interior raises security level in the Libyan search and rescue zone for the first time due to violent attacks by the Libyan coast guard

Berlin, 7 May 2026. For the first time since the beginning of civilian search and rescue operations in the central Mediterranean in 2015, the German Government has extended Security Level 2 for vessels flying the German flag from Libyan territorial waters to also include the Libyan search and rescue zone off the Libyan coast –…