COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Today, the Council has adopted a joint action concerning the EU military operation in order to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (13989/08).
The operation - EU NAVFOR Somalia/operation "Atalanta" -, which the EU aims to launch in December, will come in support of Resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008) and 1838 (2008) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It aims to contribute to the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, as well as the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.
The operation's mandate will include providing protection to vessels chartered by the WFP, including by means of the presence on board those vessels of armed units, protecting merchant vessels cruising in the areas where it is deployed, keeping watch over areas off the Somali coast, in which there are dangers to maritime activities and taking the necessary measures to deter, prevent and intervene in order to bring to an end acts of piracy and armed robbery which may be committed in the areas where it is present.
Rear admiral Phillip Jones is appointed EU Operation Commander and the EU Operational Headquarters is located at Northwood, United Kingdom
The launch of the operation will represent an intensification of the EU's efforts to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, as part of which the Union has established a military coordination cell in September in support of Resolution 1816 (2008) of the Security Council (EU NAVCO)1.
1. OJ L 252 of 20.9.2008, p. 39. www.consilium.europa.eu/eu-navco
EUROPEAN UNION - EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY
Military operation of the EU
EU NAVFOR Somalia
The European Union is getting ready to conduct a military operation in order to contribute to the deterrence, the prevention and the repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. The Council has adopted a joint action to this end on 10 November 2008.
This military operation, called EU NAVFOR Somalia - operation "Atalanta", will be launched in support of Resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008) and 1838 (2008) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in order to contribute to:
- the protection of vessels of the WFP (World Food Programme) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia;
- the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.
This operation, which is the first EU maritime operation, will be conducted in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
Mandate
The operation's mandate will in particular include the following elements:
- provide protection to vessels chartered by the WFP, including by means of the presence on board those vessels of armed units of the operation, in particular when cruising in Somali territorial waters;
- provide protection to merchant vessels cruising in the areas where it is deployed;
- keep watch over areas off the Somali coast, including Somalia's territorial waters, in which there are dangers to maritime activities, in particular to maritime traffic;
- take the necessary measures, including the use of force, to deter, prevent and intervene in order to bring to an end acts of piracy and armed robbery which may be committed in the areas where it is present.
Structures and plans
Rear admiral Phillip Jones is appointed EU Operation Commander and the EU Operational Headquarters is located at Northwood, United Kingdom
Under the responsibility of the Council, the Political and Security Committee will exercise the political control and strategic direction of the EU military operation. The operation is planned for a period of 12 months.
The estimated financial reference amount for the common costs of the operation is EUR 8,3 millions.
In view of judicial prosecutions potentially being brought by the competent States, the operation can arrest, detain and transfer persons who have committed, or are suspected of having committed, acts of piracy or armed robbery in the areas where it is present and seize the vessels of the pirates or armed robbers or the vessels caught following an act of piracy or an armed robbery and which are in the hands of the pirates, as well as the goods on board.
The operation can liaise with organisations and entities, as well as States, working in the region to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.
As a reminder, greatly preoccupied with regard to the acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, the Council established in September 2008 a coordination cell in Brussels with the task of supporting the surveillance and protection activities carried out by some Member States off the Somali coast. The activities of the EU NAVCO cell will be closed on the launch date of the EU NAVFOR military operation.
For more information on this cell: www.consilium.europa.eu/eu-navco.