EU Security Policy and Crisis Management by Koenig Nicole

Author:Koenig, Nicole [Nicole Koenig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317335283
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)

The EU supported international efforts for an inclusive Somali peace process and conducted political dialogue. Piracy became an increasingly salient topic in the dialogue with the federal and Puntland authorities (Bargfrede 2012). However, the dialogue was largely conducted from abroad. Until 2013, neither the EEAS nor the member states had diplomatic representations in the country due to the dire security situation (Holzer and Jürgenliemk 2012: 3).8

The EU has been the biggest aid donor in Somalia. Between 2008 and 2013, the Commission allocated €412 million under the 10th European Development Fund to the focal sectors of governance, education, and economic development (EEAS 2012). Between 2008 and 2012, DG ECHO pledged another €243 million to support short-term relief in the fields of food security, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, hygiene promotion, shelter, protection, and livelihoods support (EU Delegation Kenya 2013). To enhance stability and security in Somalia, the Union made substantial contributions to the chronically under-funded and under-staffed AMISOM. Between 2007 and 2013, it provided €444 million under the African Peace Facility (Council 2013). Funds mainly covered allowances, but also operational running costs, transportation, and medical expenses. The Union provided another €4.75 million for the establishment and functioning of the AU Strategic Management Planning Unit under the IfS. In total, the Union thus disbursed more than €1.1 billion to Somalia between 2007 and 2013.

France, Denmark, and the Netherlands bilaterally escorted WFP convoys in 2007 (Helly 2009: 393). In May 2008, Spain sent an informational note to the Council requesting increased attention to Somali piracy, which affected “the legitimate interests of the member states” (Spanish Delegation 2008). Taken up by a dynamic French Council Presidency, the note eventually led to the adoption of Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on 10 November 2008, establishing the Union’s first maritime operation EU NAVFOR Atalanta. Based on UNSC Resolutions 1814, 1816, and 1838, Atalanta’s primary aim was to protect and escort WFP vessels. Secondary aims were the protection – on a case-by-case basis – of vulnerable merchant vessels and the prevention and deterrence of acts of piracy and armed robbery.9 With its Operational Headquarters in Northwood, Atalanta was the first CSDP operation under British lead. It was launched on 8 December 2008 and had an initial duration of 12 months. It was gradually extended with a provisional end date in December 2016. Typically comprising around 1.200 personnel, it is among the largest CSDP operations to date (Atalanta 2015).

Atalanta was very successful in deterrence and protection. It had a 100 per cent success rate in the protection of WFP and AMISOM vessels (EU NAVFOR Somalia 2014). In addition, the number of attempted and successful pirate attacks significantly dropped since 2008 (see Table 4.1). However, the Union’s counter-piracy operation merely tackled symptoms and did not provide a sustainable solution to the problem of piracy (Weber 2009: 71). Aid deliveries may have arrived at the coast, but often disappeared on the mainland. Due to the dire security situation, only few reached South Central Somalia (Ehrhart 2013).

In addition, the Union faced problems with the prosecution of pirates.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.