European Union to lead international counter piracy efforts in 2014
Piracy in the Western Indian Ocean has been a growing threat to security, internationalshipping and development since the mid-2000s. While bearing all aspects of organisedcrime, piracy is a complex issue that can only be overcome by combining political anddiplomatic efforts with military and legal action, development assistance and stronginternational coordination. With all these tools at its disposal, the European Union (EU) is ina unique position to contribute to international efforts, and addresses that challengethrough a “comprehensive approach” tackling both current symptoms and root causes ofthe problem.
The EU’s engagement in the Horn of Africa is defined by the region’s geo-strategicimportance, the longstanding EU engagement with countries of the region, the EU’s desireto help lift the people from poverty into self-sustaining economic growth, and the need forthe EU to protect its own citizens from security threats. The EU Council of Ministers adoptedon 14 November 2011 a “Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa” to guide the EU’smulti-sectoral engagement in the region. This document sets out the way in which the EUwill pursue its strategic approach, working in partnership with the region itself, in particularthe African Union, and key international partners. It defines five priorities for EU action:building robust and accountable political structures; contributing to conflict resolution andprevention; mitigating security threats emanating from the region; promoting economicgrowth, and supporting regional economic cooperation.
To coordinate these efforts, since 1 January 2012, the EU has a Special Representative tothe Horn of Africa, Alexander Rondos. He was tasked to initially focus on Somalia and theregional dimensions of the conflict there, as well as on piracy, which has its root causes inthe instability of Somalia. More recently, the EU co-organised with the Somali FederalGovernment the Conference on a “New Deal for Somalia” in Brussels on 16 September 2013,where a strategic framework and broader objectives were set out for the country.
The EU is also active in international initiatives within the United Nations (UN) framework asset out by its Security Council Resolutions on piracy off Somalia. The Contact Group onPiracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) is an international cooperation mechanism createdin 2009, which serves as a point of contact among affected and contributing states,international organisations, and industries concerned, on all relevant aspects of combatingpiracy. The EU and its Member States participate actively in the plenary sessions and allworking groups: military coordination and regional capability development; legal aspects;self protection measures; public outreach policy; and investigations/financial flows. TheDjibouti Code of Conduct, signed in 2009 under the auspices of the International MaritimeOrganization (IMO), and the Regional Strategy and Action Plan of the Eastern and SouthernAfrica – Indian Ocean Region endorsed in October 2010 in Mauritius, ensure regionalownership of the EU’s actions.
You may read an overview of the current main areas of action under the EU umbrella by reading the EU Factsheet here
For more information, please click below
EU to lead counter piracy efforts in 2014
EU Naval Force – Operation Atalanta
Regional maritime capacity building mission EUCAP Nestor
Critical maritime routes information portal:http://www.crimson.eu.com/about/
Regional Maritime Training Centre:http://www.edumar.org/
International maritime Organization:
http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Security/PIU/Documents/PIU_Brochure_1st_edition.pdf