Brussels, 09/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 8 February, EU member states gave the go-ahead to a reconfiguration of the EU's presence in Palestine, moving towards the merging of the two civilian CSDP missions in the Palestinian Territories, namely the police mission (EUPOL COPPS) and the EU aid programme at the Rafah Crossing (EUBAM Rafah), whose mandates expire on 24 May. Work on the rejigging is in process in a series of working groups. Once confirmed, the decision will absorb the EUBAM mission, suspended since the closure of the Rafah Crossing in 2007, into the EUPOL COPPS mission launched in 2006 to advise Palestinian police on criminal justice matters and the rule of law. EUPOL COPPS may be strengthened and extended, in line with the desires of the EU high representative, and become involved in training work on customs and border management across the West Bank. The transfer to EUPOL COPPS of the EUBAM's rights would make it possible to continue with the 2005 Access and Movement Agreement (AMA) for Gaza's borders, which gives the EU a role as a third party in monitoring the Rafah Crossing. It would also make it possible to redeploy EU advisors to other crossings. This potential merger of the two missions may lead to a new CSDP civilian mission in the Palestinian Territories for Reform of the Security Sector (RSS). In which case, EUBAM's mandate, which runs out on 24 May, may be given a technical extension for the time needed to launch the new mission. In the meantime, using the resources of EUBAM Rafah, EUPOL COPPS may become more widely involved in training exercises. (A.By./transl.fl)