The European Union appointed Natalina Cea on Thursday as the new Head of Mission for the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya. She will take up her duties on 1 February 2021 succeeding Vincenzo Tagliaferri, who has been Head of Mission since 1 September 2016.
Cea has worked as an Italian civil servant for more than 20 years, working as Director of the International Cooperation and Technical Assistance Office of the Italian Customs Administration.
She also led missions, programs, and projects in the civilian security sector, primarily border management and related security and justice issues.
EUBAM Libya, a civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy was launched on 22 May 2013. It is tasked with contributing to the Libyan authorities’ efforts to disrupt organized criminal networks involved in the smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, and terrorism.
The mission coordinates and implements projects with international partners in the fields of border management, law enforcement, and criminal justice.