EU extends Somalia maritime assistance mission

The Council extended the mandate of the EU capacity building mission in Somalia,  EUCAP Somalia until 31 December 2020. The Council also agreed on a budget of €66.1 million for the period 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2020.

The missionmandate is to enhance Somalia’smaritime civilian law enforcement capacity, through supporting Somali authorities in developing the necessary legislation, strengthening the criminal justice chain in the maritime domain, and providingtraining and equipment. The mission also provides advice on policy tothe Somalia ministry of internalsecurity and the police, in support of initiatives from the EU andinternational partners.

EUCAP Nestor (now EUCAP Somalia) was launched in July 2012. In December 2016, it was decided that the mission will focus on Somalia to support authorities in strengthening their maritime security capacity in order to enable them to enforce maritime law more effectively, including to counter piracy. EUCAP Somalia is based in Mogadishu and the Head of Mission is Maria-Cristina Stepanescu (of Romania).

EUCAPSomalia is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to Somalia, which comprises diplomatic efforts, development support, humanitarian aid as well as engagement in the field of rule of law and law enforcement. It includes two complementary missions under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy: EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA contributing to fighting piracy off the Somali coast and EUTM Somalia providing political and strategic level military advice to the Somali authorities and contributing to the development of the SomaliNational Army (SNA)’s own training capacity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Council of the European Union.