Mission

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EU NAVFOR

EU NAVFOR

Objectives and mandate

The European Union is concerned with the continuing impact of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia on international maritime security and on the economic activities and security of countries in the region.

As a result and as part of a comprehensive approach, the EU has launched European Naval Force Somalia – Operation ATALANTA (EU NAVFOR – ATALANTA) within the framework of the European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and International Law.

After the launch of EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA in December 2008, the operation continues to successfully perform its mission and contributes to improving maritime security off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean. The Council of the EU has decided to extend the operation until December 2012.

By UNSC mandate, EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA conducts:

  • the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast;
  • the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia; the protection of African Union Mission on Somalia (AMISOM) shipping;
  • the protection of vulnerable shipping off the Somali coast on a case by case basis;
  • in addition, EU NAVFOR – ATALANTA shall also contribute to the monitoring of fishing activities off the coast of Somalia.

For the full text, please see COUNCIL DECISION 2010/766/CFSP of 7 December 2010 amending Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP


Contributing countries

EU NAVFOR – Operation ATALANTA’s participation goes beyond EU Member States. Norway was the first non-EU country to contribute to the Operation with one warship, in 2009. Furthermore, Croatia andUkraine have provided staff officers to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ). Additionally, Montenegro’s offer to contribute has been accepted and a Participation Agreement has been concluded to this effect, allowing the contribution of naval officers.

Means of contributing:

  • Operational contribution to EU NAVFOR,

             -      Navy vessels (surface combat vessels and auxiliary ships),

             -      Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircrafts (MPRA),

             -      Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) teams.

  • Providing military staff to work at the EU NAVFOR OHQ in Northwood, UK, or onboard units.

Additionally, a considerable international military naval presence is now in the area, comprising the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), NATO and also units from China, India, Japan, Russia, Taiwan and others – all with varying mandates and mission objectives.

EU NAVFOR ATALANTA has permanent liaison with these forces to deconflict their operations in time and space in the mission area.

Financing

The funding of EU NAVFOR ATALANTA amounted to €8.4 million for 2010 and €8.05 million for 2011.

This budget is shared – via the Athena Mechanism – between the EU Member States, based on their GDP, and covers the financing of common costs, such as costs for the Operational Headquarters (Northwood – UK) and the Force Headquarters (onboard the Flagship), as well as medical services and transport.

Costs of supplying military assets and personnel are shared by the contributing states according to their involvement in the operation, with each state bearing the cost of the resources it deploys.

Force size and area of operation

The force size fluctuates according to the monsoon seasons, which have significant impact on the level of piracy.

It typically consists of 5 to 10 surface combat vessels, 1 to 2 auxiliary ship and 2 to 4 MPRAs.

Including land-based personnel, EU NAVFOR consists of around 1,500 military personnel.

EU NAVFOR ATALANTA operates in a mission area covering an area from the south of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Western part of the Indian Ocean including theSeychelles.

This represents an area of 2,000,000 square nautical miles (almost 4,000,000 square kilometres or the equivalent to 30 times the size of England, 10 times the size of Germany, or 7 times the size of France or Spain).

In response to the geographical range in which pirates operate and changing pirate tactics, the EU has expanded the Area of Operations for EU NAVFOR and has adapted counter-piracy tactics.

Owners and operators who have vessels transiting the region are strongly encouraged to register their movements on the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) to improve their security and reduce the risk of attacks or capture. Additionally, the “Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy” (BMP) and further information about combating piracy and what action to take should they come under attack can be downloaded.

Achievements

Since the launch of the operation EU NAVFOR-Operation ATALANTA

  • has had a 100% success rate providing escorts to WFP vessels delivering over 674.000 tons of food for Somali people.
  • has also provided protection to AMISOM shipments, which are critical to the success of the AU operation in Somalia.
  • has also ensured the protection of other vulnerable shipping within the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) and other assistance.

As a result of its close cooperation with regional governments such as those The Republic of the Seychelles, 111 suspected pirates captured by the EU NAVFOR have been transferred to competent authorities with a view to their prosecution, with 56 being convicted to date.

A comprehensive approach

EU NAVFOR ATALANTA is part of the global action conducted by the EU in the Horn of Africa to deal with the Somali crisis, which has political, security and humanitarian aspects. The EU’s objective in Somalia is to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful, stable and democratic country, trigger sustainable development and eradicate the root causes of piracy. The EU has consistently been implementing a comprehensive approach including:

EUTM Somalia is a EU military mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces in order to contribute to strengthening the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the institutions of Somalia, with a view to responding to the priority needs of the Somali people and stabilising Somalia. The training of Somali security forces has started in May 2010 and takes place in Uganda where Somali forces are already being trained, which also facilitate the coordination of the EU action with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The mission is conducted in close coordination with EU partners, including the TFG of Somalia, Uganda, the African Union, the United Nations and the United States of America.

  • Support to the African Union’s military mission to Somalia (AMISOM).

Support to the African Union’s military mission to Somalia (AMISOM).The European Union is currently supporting the African Union Peace keeping Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) with around 9000 troops on the ground. AMISOM’s main objective is to provide support to the Somali Transitional Federal Institutions in their effort to stabilise the country and further dialogue and reconciliation. The EU has supported AMISOM since its inception through bilateral contributions from Member States under the African Peace Facility, worth over €258 million from the European Development Fund funded African Peace Facility (APF).

  • Further Assistance to Somalia (not exhaustive):
    Development aid from the European Commission (EDF)
    •    €409,472,071 million of development aid from 2003
    •    €215.8 million for 2008-2013 (EDF, Somalia Special Support Programme – initial envelop)
    •    €175 million for 2012-2013 (EDF, Ad-hoc Review)
    Our ongoing development assistance in focal sectors
    •    €52 million Governance & Security
    •    €36 million Education
    •    €48 million Economic Growth
    Humanitarian aid from the European
    Commission for Somalia (ECHO)
    •    €43,8 million for 2008, €45 million in 2009 and €35 million for 2010 (possibly €30 million in 2011)
    •    €198 million since 2005 for Somalia

For further information please visit the website of the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) and see the The Joint Strategy Paper for Somalia for 2008-2013.

Legal basis

European Naval Force Somalia – Operation ATALANTA (EU NAVFOR – ATALANTA) is based on decisions by the Council of the EU in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and international law.

Please find a comprehensive list of the relevant resolutions and decisions on the website of the European Union External Action Service (EEAS).