EUBAM Rafah: redeployment in accelerated phase

(BRUSSELS2) Here we go. At the temporary headquarters of EUBAM, in Ashkelon, we are busy! Suspended for more than two years, the European Border Surveillance Mission at Rafah could quickly resume its functions (everything depends on the latest negotiations with neighboring states). In any case, an accelerated redeployment plan (compared to the previous, see my article from the end of December) was developed and approved from an operational point of view (CPCC) as a policy (COPS) by the 27. For several days, a dozen people have thus come to be added to the 18 already present on the spot, in reinforcement of the EU Civilian Crisis Management Staff (CPCC). Mission: plan and prepare the restart of the mission, make the first contacts, ensure a whole series of administrative tasks, which may seem trivial, but constitute the essentials of the preparation (and the subsequent success) of a mission.

Reinforcements in the coming days

From this Friday afternoon, other reinforcements will arrive in the country and spread out over the coming days. 23 additional people in all - in charge of administrative support, security and supervision (to take over from the "interims" of the CPCC). The mission management staff - deputy head of mission, head of operations and his deputy, etc. - will thus be complete. This will make it possible to ensure all the necessary contacts with the various parties, to carry out reconnaissance, to set up the operational system and to negotiate the various political, logistical and administrative agreements. 20 other additional people are also on "stand bye" at H24, ready to leave in 24 hours. That is to say in all 60 people who could be hard at work when the political start of the deployment will be pronounced. And for the rest of the staff, recruitment in the Member States is still in progress but "on the right track". In total, the mission should include between 70 and 80 people. This represents a certain increase in staff. So an increase in the budget - and the approval of the European Commission (and the European Parliament) which should not pose a problem but requires a little time. Note that this is the workforce for the Eubam Rafah mission (original) and not the Eubam Rafah Plus mission (with deployment all along the Gaza border, on the Egyptian side.

Negotiate a new deal

The first job is, in fact, to establish contacts and (re)negotiate an agreement with all the parties: Palestinians (Ramallah), Egyptians, Israelis. Apparently it's not easy because everyone has a different opinion: "The Egyptians want the application of the 2005 agreement - nothing more. The Palestinians want an improved agreement - with a real border post allowing import and export. The Israelis are more focused on the fight against smuggling and tunnels." assures me a connoisseur of the file.

Officially, of course, there is no "negotiation" with Hamas security or political officials. But meetings with Egyptians take place in a rather discreet place on the border, outside known places (Rafah) which thus allow several interlocutors to meet in peace...

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)