Extension of the ESDP Congo mission
(BRUSSELS2) On June 16, the Council of Foreign Ministers extended the mandate of the mission carried out under the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) to assist the Congolese authorities in setting up a national army in the Congo (Eusec RDC) for a period of 12 months from 1 July 2008. The “current security situation in the DRC could deteriorate, which would have potentially serious repercussions on the process of strengthening democracy , the rule of law and security at the international and regional level” explains the draft decision. But the budget allocated to the operation decreased slightly: 8,45 million euros for the period 2008-2009 (against 9,7 million euros for the period 2007-2008). NB: Civilian missions are in fact financed from an essentially Community budget. (NGV)
