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Extension of Atalanta: decision approved on Friday. To attack…

(B2, exclusive) The Environment Ministers of the "27" (*) should approve, on Friday, the extension until December 2014 of the EU anti-piracy operation (Eunavfor Atalanta) as well as its extension geographic to territorial waters ” as well as on the “ somalia coast ».

The text was finalized in a group of "external relations" experts. It was endorsed after a 'silence procedure' by EU ambassadors today. It should go to the Coreper ambassadors this Wednesday (7 March), before reaching the Ministers' table, at point A. European ships will then be able to directly attack the pirates' logistics bases on land (destruction of stocks of fuel, boats on the beach, vehicles, etc.) or boats at anchor (destruction of unoccupied pirate skiffs). They will also be able to block pirate skiffs or mother ships as they leave the beach or in territorial waters, or even operate release operations on ships at anchor, security permitting. This risks disorganizing the pirates somewhat who will thus be caught between “two fires”.

Hackers will no longer be safe anywhere. Between the raids on land carried out by the local forces (Puntland, etc.) and the European forces at sea, there could thus be a more visible conjunction of action. It does not seem excluded either that the European forces lend their logistical assistance (boats) to the Somali police forces to transport them and allow a landing by sea. The simple passage of a ship, close to the coast, could also allow show apprentice pirates that there is a risk, and dissuade certain departures. A notion of risk that does not yet seem to be present in some pirate groups.

(*) Some might be surprised that Ministers of the Environment decide on a point of defence. It is the very mechanics of the European Union that allows this device. The EU Council of Ministers is a single body, regardless of its composition. Points which have already been discussed and are the subject of a consensus may be placed on the agenda of any Council of Ministers. No need to wait for the next Foreign Affairs Council.

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Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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