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Updated: 24 March 2012 MEDIA INFORMATION Page 1 of 11 European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation ATALANTA 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 - The European Union is concerned with the ATALANTA shall also contribute to the continuing impact of piracy and armed robbery monitoring of fishing activities off the at sea off the coast of Somalia on international coast of Somalia. 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. More than two years 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 2014. Page 2 of 11 Contributing countries Op ATALANTA political control and strategic direction EU NAVFOR ATALANTA’s participation goes beyond EU Member States. Norway was the Political Control and Strategic Direction first non-EU country to contribute to the The Political and Security Committee (PSC) Operation with one warship, in 2009. exercises the political control and strategic Furthermore, Croatia and Ukraine have provided direction of the EU military operation, under the staff officers to the Operation Headquarters responsibility of the Council of the European (OHQ). Additionally, offers from Montenegro Union. The Operation Commander reports and Serbia to contribute have been accepted and directly to the PSC. a Participation Agreement has been concluded to this effect, allowing the contribution of maritime The European Union Military Committee officers. (EUMC) monitors the proper execution of the operation conducted under the responsibility of Means of contributing to EU NAVFOR: the Operation Commander. The chairman of the EUMC acts as the primary point of contact with Navy vessels (surface combat vessels and the EU Operation Commander. auxiliary ships), Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Advising Body Aircraft (MPRA), The European Union Military Staff (EUMS)is a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) teams. part of the European External Action Service Providing military staff to work at the EU NAVFOR OHQ in Northwood, UK, and provides in-house military expertise for the or onboard units. High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) and performs Additionally, a considerable international early warning; strategic planning; and situation military maritime presence is now in the area, assessment in support of Op ATALANTA. comprising the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), NATO and also independent national Operation Commander: units such as China, India, Japan, Russia, The Operation Commander commands the Taiwan and others – all committed to Counter Piracy (CP) but to some extend with varying operation from the Operational Headquarters mandates and mission objectives. (OHQ) at Northwood, United Kingdom. There he plans and conducts the operation in EU NAVFOR ATALANTA has permanent conjunction with the political and military liaison with these forces to deconflict their authorities of the European Union. operations in time and space in the area of operation. Force Commander: The Force Commander is exercising command and control of all military forces in the Joint Operation Area. He is responsible for planning, orchestration and execution of military activities. Page 3 of 11 Financing Legal basis The funding of EU NAVFOR - ATALANTA European Maritime Force Somalia - Operation amounted to EUR 8.4 million for 2010 and EUR ATALANTA (EU NAVFOR - ATALANTA) is 8.05 million for 2011. based on decisions by the Council of the EU in accordance with relevant UN Security Council This budget is shared - via the Athena Resolutions (UNSCR) and international law. Mechanism - between the EU Member States, based on their GDP, and covers the financing of In the area of Operation, EUNAVFOR common costs, such as costs for the Operational Operation ATALANTA can arrest, detain and Headquarters (Northwood – UK) and the Force transfer persons suspected of intending to Headquarters (onboard the Flagship), as well as commit, committing or having committed acts of medical services and transport. piracy or armed robbery. Costs of supplying military assets and personnel EU NAVFOR assets can seize Vessels of the are shared by the contributing states according to pirates or armed robbers, vessels captured by an their involvement in the operation, with each act of piracy or armed robbery, and such vessels state bearing the cost of the resources it deploys. which are in the hands of the pirates or armed robbers, as well as the property on board. Area of Operation The suspects can be prosecuted by an EU The European Naval force operates in an area member state, by regional states or any other covering the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden third states which wish to exercise its and a large part of the Indian Ocean, including jurisdiction over the suspected pirates or armed the Seychelles. The area of Operation also robbers and seized property. Suspected persons includes Somali coastal territory as well as its may not be transferred to a third State unless territorial and internal waters. conditions relevant to international law, notably This represents an area of 2,000,000 square international law on human rights are met. In nautical miles (almost 4,000,000 square particular, no one shall be subjected to the death kilometres). This is an area 1.5 times the size of penalty, to torture or to any cruel, inhuman or Europe mainland. The entire region needs to be degrading treatment. considered as High Risk Area. Page 4 of 11 Achievements Since the launch of the operation captured by the EU NAVFOR have been EU NAVFOR - ATALANTA transferred to competent authorities with a view to their prosecution and conviction. has had a 100% success rate providing escorts to WFP vessels delivering food to the 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 the High Risk Area. As a result of its close cooperation with regional governments such as those of Kenya and The Republic of the Seychelles, suspected pirates Protect vulnerable shipping Page 5 of 11 World Food Programme Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have fled to refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia during the The number of people now in need of food relief current crisis while tens of thousands of others due to drought, conflict and high food prices in have poured into the capital, Mogadishu, in Somalia is approximately 4 million – almost half search of help. of the country’s population, according to the Escorted by EU NAVFOR Operation Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit ATALANTA assets, WFP has delivered over (FSNAU) for Somalia and the Famine Early 843.181 metric tons of food into Somalia Warning System Network (FEWS NET). Their through Mogadishu, Merka, Bossaso and data indicate that famine conditions prevail in Berbera. Under EU NAVFOR protection not a Middle Shabelle as well as among internally single WFP vessel has been attacked by pirates. displaced people in Afgoye and Mogadishu. WFP is currently providing life-saving “WFP remains extremely grateful to the EU for assistance to about 1 million people in committing itself to escorting ships carrying Mogadishu, central and northern Somalia and WFP food, and giving us the long term will scale up its operations during coming protection that our shipments need, especially in months to reach more people in those parts of view of the increasing need for assistance.” the country where WFP has access. (WFP Public Affairs Office East Africa) Page 6 of 11 A Comprehensive European Approach: EU NAVFOR ATALANTA is part of the EU a) Strengthen the sea going maritime capacity of Comprehensive Approach in the Horn of Africa. Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Seychelles. b) Train and equip the Coastal Police Force in The political objectives of the EU are to prevent the Somali regions of Puntland, Somaliland and and deter pirates from interrupting global Galmudug, as well as train and protect judges in maritime trade but also to contribute to a the Somali region of Puntland. sustainable and long-term solution to piracy through building-up the capacity of the states in These missions will work in an integrated and the region, including Somalia, to take ownership complementary manner with other interventions of the fight against piracy. of the European Union, especially humanitarian aid and development cooperation. In December Moreover, the European Union works towards 2011, an EU Special Representative to the eradicating the