Turkey will participate in the mission in Palestine

(B2) Turkey could take part in the European training mission for the Palestinian police (Eupol Copps). The Political and Security Committee (PSC) has just approved this participation. Turkey had indicated that it was ready to participate in this mission from the start in 2005. No follow-up because the mission was very small. Today, that the Eupol mission extends to other aspects (police but also criminal justice), this candidacy becomes active again. The Turks are going to offer police officers. But their exact number will depend on the number of posts offered at the mission. In civilian missions, it is, in fact, the head of mission and the EU Civilian Military Staff (CCPC) who carry out the recruitment, according to the rules in use in the EU (call for offers, selection, recourse).

Turks already active in ESDP. Turks are already taking part in the "Eulex" Kosovo rule of law mission, the Eupm police mission and the Althea military mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Turkey has also applied to become an observer of the European Gendarmerie Force, formed multinationally by six Member States (France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Romania). The acceptance of this candidacy could occur quickly as soon as the meeting of the ministerial committee (*). Turkey has also indicated its availability to participate in a future mission of the European Gendarmerie in Afghanistan.

(*) It cannot become a member as such, not being a member of the EU.