Skiff destruction
On 12 March, after receiving a report from MV E.R. LUBECK (Liberian Flag, German owner) that pirates in 2 skiffs had tried to hijack her, COMEUNAVFOR initiated a surge operation to intercept and disrupt the PAG. The EUNAVFOR Flagship ITS ETNA tasked the EUNAVFOR Swedish and Luxemburg Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and EUNAVFOR Warship HNLMS TROMP against the PAG consisting of one mother skiff and two skiffs. The attack on the LUBECK took place almost one thousand miles from the Somali coast and HNLMS TROMP proceeded at best speed to assist. The EUNAVFOR MPA continued to track the PAG and vectored the warship onto the suspected pirate position.
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Rear Admiral Hudson in his Office in Northwood (source: www.mschoa.eu)
Deeply concerned by the outbreak of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, the European Union is conducting military operation EUNAVFOR Somalia (operation "Atalanta"), in support of UN Security Council Resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008), 1838 (2008), 1846 (2008) and 1897 (2009), in order to contribute to:
- the protection of vessels of the WFP (World Food Programme) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia;
- the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast.
Operation EUNAVFOR reached its Initial Operational Capability on 13 December 2008 and Full Operational Capability in February 2009. This operation, which is the first EU maritime operation, is conducted in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). On 8 December 2009, the Council of the EU decided to extend the Operation's mandate for another year until 12 December 2010.
The EU participates in the work of the International Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and has established cooperative frameworks and arrangements to enable Operation Atalanta to cooperate effectively with other naval forces and assets deployed in the region. On 17 November 2009, the Council welcomed the leading role taken by EUNAVFOR-Atalanta in the coordination between the multinational, national and regional naval forces operating in the area to ensure de-confliction, shared awareness and coordination in the disruption of piracy.
The Council recalled the crucial contribution made by Kenya to the detention and to the undertaking of prosecution of suspected pirates apprehended by Atalanta's warships. The Council also welcomed the exchange of letters concluded on 30 October 2009 between the EU and the Republic of Seychelles for the transfer of suspected pirates and armed robbers apprehended by Atalanta. This arrangement constitutes an important new contribution to the counter-piracy efforts.
The International Conference in support of the Somali Security Institutions held in Brussels on 23 April 2009 represented an important contribution towards the establishment of the Somali Security forces and the civilian Somali Police Force in line with the Djibouti Agreement of August 2008. In July 2009 the Council decided to step up the EU's engagement for promoting peace and development in Somalia. To this end, the Council has studied possibilities for the EU to contribute to international efforts, including in the security field. On 17 November 2009, the Council approved a Crisis Management Concept on a possible ESDP operation to contribute to the training of Transitional Federal Government Security Forces and requested further planning work.
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