The European Council on 16 December decided to prolong the mandate of the EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA and of the EU’s military training mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) until 28 February 2027.
This comes after the Council’s decision of 5 December to prolong the mandate of the EU’s civilian capacity-building mission (EUCAP Somalia) until the same date. These decisions were taken following the holistic strategic review of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) engagement in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, with the aim to strengthen the EU’s response to an evolving security context and to enhance its role as a maritime security provider.
At the same time, the Council updated the mandate of Operation ATALANTA to enhance maritime security off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden, the West Indian Ocean and parts of the Red Sea, and better support building a wider regional maritime security architecture. With the new mandate, the Operation will continue to fight piracy and reduce illicit trafficking at sea.
Synergies with the maritime Operation ASPIDES, currently protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea, will be enhanced. In parallel, the Maritime Security Center (MSC) Horn of Africa, supporting both ATALANTA and ASPIDES, is being rebranded as MSC Indian Ocean and its role is being reinforced.
Furthermore, in Somalia, the EU’s CSDP action was widened to support the build-up of Somali Security Forces and institutions with the view to take over responsibility for its own security in the future, in line with the Joint EU-Somalia Roadmap. With the renewed mandates, EUCAP Somalia and EUTM Somalia will support the build-up of capable, sustainable, and accountable Somali security institutions through strategic advice, mentoring and training, accompanied by EU-funded equipment support through the European Peace Facility.
To strengthen the regional approach, the missions and the operation will support capacity-building efforts of the regional and, in particular, Djibouti maritime security forces within their means and capabilities.
According to the Council’s statement, in order to uphold the EU’s core values, all activities will pay particular attention to international humanitarian law, human rights, preventing gender-based violence, protecting children in armed conflicts, and promoting the agenda of women, peace and security and climate, security and defence.
