EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), issued the following statement today congratulating the decision taken by the member States at the Political and Security Committee concerning the modalities of a European Union counter-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia.

It was decided on 14 October to nominate Northwood (United Kingdom) as headquarters of the operation. Rear-Admiral Philip Jones of the Royal Navy was proposed as the Operation Commander and he was requested to start operational planning with a view to launching the operation in December.

Javier Solana is confident that this operation will be an important contribution by the Union to the protection of vessels from the World Food Programme, protection of vulnerable vessels along the coast of Somalia against acts of piracy.

The EU established a counter-piracy initiative on 15 September, when EU NAVCO was set up. This unit, based in Brussels, provides support for coordination of activities undertaken by member States for surveillance and protection off the coast of Somalia.

Resolution 1838 (2008) of the Security Council of the United Nations of 7 October welcomed the current planning of an eventual naval military operation of the European Union.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:
Spokesperson of the Secretary General,
High Representative for CFSP
Tel: +32 (0)2 281 6467 / 5150 / 5151 / 8239
Fax: +32 (0)2 281 5694 internet:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/solana
e-mail: presse.cabinet@consilium.europa.eu