The extension of Eunavfor Atalanta published in the OJ

(BRUSSELS2) The decision extending the Eunavfor Atalanta operation was published this morning in the OJ (download the decision here).

The main changes - already commented on on this blog - concern both the scope of action, the transfer methods and the duration of the mission:

• The area of ​​operations of the deployed forces includes the "Somali coastline and internal waters" (NB: i.e. the ports, coves and areas between the islands and the land), as well as the maritime areas off the coast of Somalia and neighboring countries in the Indian Ocean region. (article 1.2 of the mandate)
• The protection of ships chartered by the WFP (food program) can also be done even in the "internal waters of Somalia"; which allows the embarked military teams (VPD) to be protected up to the port, which was not currently the case... (article 2a of the mandate). The Dutch are currently carrying out this mission. VPDs can be fully autonomous, semi-autonomous (one helicopter per hour flight) or assisted by an escort vessel.
• The area surveillance mission is also extended to "inland waters" (article 2c of the mandate)
• The duration of the operation is increased by two years, until 12 December 2014. The budget (supported by the 26 Member States*) is 14,9 million euros for the two years, i.e. 7,5 barely millions a year (Articles 14 and 16 of the mandate). This sum is distributed between the "26" according to the Athena mechanism, by a distribution key based on GDP. Most of the costs - commitment, personnel, boats, planes... - are covered by the Member States participating in the operation
• Clarification is provided on the transfer of suspects, pirates caught in the act or those who have already committed an act, "in the territorial waters, internal waters or archipelagic waters of other States in the region" (except Somalia) may be made directly to these States - or to another State (article 12.2 of the mandate)

Remember that Atalanta “contributes to the surveillance of fishing activities (Nb: illegal) off the coast of Somalia” (article 1.3 of the mandate); an often overlooked role.

Read also:

• Atalanta targets pirates on land: all the explanations (well almost 🙂 (maj2)
• Some details on the territorial extension of Atalanta
• Extension of Atalanta: decision approved on Friday. To attack…