Brussels, 15/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The CFSP mission EUTM Mali was very close to not being deployed in time but the formal decision on deployment for this training and advisory mission to Mali is now to be adopted on Monday 18 February at the Foreign Affairs Council under the chairmanship of Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Since the Informal Defence Council in Dublin (see EUROPE 10785), the question relating to the two medical support helicopters that were still missing has been resolved (and on Wednesday a Belgian helicopter carried out its first medical evacuation mission). On Friday, the Political and Security Committee was able to confirm that the commitment taken by the EU to deploy the mission by mid-February at the latest could indeed be upheld.
In addition to the endorsement of this decision, the EU27 foreign ministers will again take stock of the situation in Mali and adopt conclusions. (AN/transl.jl)