The EU approved, on 12 December, the basis for a new Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission to fight piracy in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean states. This mission is aimed at supporting the already existing maritime capacity in the region, as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to strengthen the ability of the affected regions to govern their own territorial waters and to “reinforce their capacity to fight piracy,” an EU statement said. The mission, whose operational planning will start shortly, will address two priorities: “strengthening the sea-going maritime capacities in the countries in the region” and training a coastal police force and judges in Somalia. Support will be offered to Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Yemen as well as to Somalia, in particular to the regions of Puntland and Galmudug, the EU said, while training will take place in Djibouti and on the ground in the countries concerned.

On 5 December, the EU already agreed on a strategic framework for the Horn of Africa, boosting funding to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by offering an additional €50 million to help end the crisis in the Horn of Africa and to fight against piracy. The new mission, agreed on 12 December, will be part of this new strategic framework for the region.

The mission will be complementary to two other CSDP missions in the same region: EUNAVFOR Atalanta (to fight piracy and protect food aid shipments) and EUTM Somalia (to train Somali security forces). The starting date of the operations and of the mission will be decided in a future Council decision.