06/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Belgian to head up EUCAP Sahel Niger. On Tuesday 6 May, the Political and Security Committee (COPS) appointed Filip de Ceuninck as head of the EU's mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger). This decision will have little influence on the day-to-day running of the mission, however, as de Ceuninck has been in this post since November 2013, albeit on a temporary basis. His mandate will run until 15 July 2014, when the current mandate of the mission also expires. The extension of this mission until 15 July 2016 has already been validated by COPS. De Ceuninck heads a team of some 50 experts from ten member states, with headquarters at Niamey (Niger) and liaison offices in Mali and Mauritania. The aim of the mission is to advise the Nigerian authorities and organise training to reinforce their ability to fight terrorism and organised crime. (JK)