The European logistics support center for Misma has opened

(BRUSSELS2) Coordinate available planes - at European level and from third countries - and requests from African countries that want to send troops to Mali. This is the objective of the small structure called "Clearing house" (call center) set up within the EU General Staff rue Cortenbergh in Brussels.

The objective is to help AFISMA - the African Support Mission in Mali - " to achieve the operational strength necessary for the immediate transport of contingents”, but also " in the longer term to provide logistical support in the months to come” to the commitment of AFISMA, "including for the transport of equipment, personnel and ammunition". This mechanism had been decided at the exceptional council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, devoted to Mali, on January 17.

Single entry point

The Clearing House is " a single entry point for the registration of ECOWAS applications as well as recording any support offered by Member States or third countries. Requests from African countries are transmitted to Brussels by one of the EU liaison officers, either the one based in Abuja in Nigeria (ECOWAS), or the one based in Bamako in Mali. The European Union's logistical support to AFISMA is not, however, limited to a register of offers and requests for transporting troops or equipment. It may also include technical support, material or advice — for example, spare parts for materials, gasoline, etc. —. It could also include planning assistance or training (this being different from the EUTM Somalia mission).

A similar system (but only limited to air transport) was put in place in March 2011 for the evacuation of European or foreign nationals from Libya, within the framework of the cell "Air Movement planning" of the General Staff (read: The EU's “Evacuations” crisis unit, on the bridge)