On 15 November 2005, Israel and the Palestinian Authority concluded an "Agreement on Movement and Access", including agreed principles for Rafah crossing (Gaza). On 21 November 2005, the Council of the EU welcomed the Agreement and agreed that the EU should undertake the Third Party role proposed in the Agreement. It therefore decided to launch the EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah crossing point, code-named EU BAM Rafah, to monitor the operations of this border crossing point. The operational phase of the mission began on 30 November 2005. The Rafah crossing point was last opened with the presence of EUBAM Rafah on 9 June 2007. Since then, the mission has remained on standby, ready to reengage and awaiting a political solution.

 

On 26 May 2011, the Council reaffirmed the political importance of EUBAM Rafah and its continued support for the mission. It recalled in particular that the EU stands ready to reactivate the EUBAM Rafah Mission, once political and security conditions allow, in order to ensure the EU third party role at the Rafah crossing point, as set out in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.

 

On 1 October 2012 Colonel Francesco Bruzzese del Pozzo has been appointed Head of Mission for the EU Border assistance mission for the Rafah crossing point (EUBAM Rafah). His mandate runs until 30 June 2013. He will succeed Captain Davide Palmigiani, who had been interim Head of Mission since 1 July 2012, Colonel Alain Faugeras and General Pietro Pistolese.