The UN Security Council unanimously agreed on Friday to extend a resolution that authorizes European countries to intercept vessels suspected of smuggling migrants from Libya.

Resolution 2546 proposed by Germany, provided for the extension for an additional period of 12 months, starting from Friday to end on October 2, 2021.

The resolution requests the UN Secretary-General to report to the members of the Council on the implementation of this resolution.

It "condemns all acts of migrant smuggling and human trafficking into, through and from the Libyan territory and off the coast of Libya, which undermine further the process of stabilization of Libya and endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," the resolution says.

It also stressed the need to put an end to the continued escalation of migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and the endangering of lives in the Mediterranean.

The Security Council has expressed its intention to continue to review the situation and consider further renewal of the measures, as appropriate.