Council launches EU action to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa
The Council approved on the 12 December 2011 the concept for a new Common Security and Defence Policy mission to support regional maritime capacity building in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean states. This decision kicks off operational planning for the mission.
The EU is committed to tackling piracy through a comprehensive approach that combats it at sea, while contributing to a lasting solution through the rule of law, socio-economic development and capacity building on land. The new EU mission EUCAP NESTOR will assist states in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, including Somalia, to develop a self-sustainable capacity to enhance their maritime security and governance, including judicial capacities.
What is EUCAP NESTOR
EUCAP NESTOR is a regional training mission under preparation, which will aim at strengthening the maritime capacities of eight countries in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
EUCAP NESTOR will be a civilian mission carried out under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), augmented with military expertise. EUCAP NESTOR is fully complementary with the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR – Operation Atalanta) and the EU Training Mission (EUTM) in Somalia.
EUCAP NESTOR will have an initial mandate of two years, with a strategic assessment after a year, based on benchmarks and measurable achievements.
EUCAP NESTOR is an important element in the EU's comprehensive approach to fighting piracy, as it allows maximising synergies between military and civilian capabilities. The EU has formed strategic partnerships with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to execute and deliver this mission. Complementarity with other EU-funded projects related to maritime security will also be crucial.
The Critical Maritime Routes Programme under the Instrument for Stability, in place since 2009, has been in the forefront of addressing the maritime capacity building needs in the Western Indian Ocean region, focusing on training and information sharing.
The envisaged support under the European Development Fund to assist the Eastern and Southern African – Indian Ocean Regional Strategy and Action Plan against Piracy and for Promoting Maritime Security ('Regional Strategy') will also contribute strongly to ongoing EU efforts. Finally, this mission will also work in an integrated and complementary manner with other interventions of the European Union, especially humanitarian aid and development cooperation
On 17 July 2012 Mr Jacques LAUNAY was appointed Head of the European Union Mission on Regional Maritime Capacity Building in the Horn of Africa (EUCAP NESTOR).