Brussels, 02/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 2 July, the EU extended the mandates by a year of the advisory and training mission of the Palestinian police (EUPOL COPPS), and of the advisory mission for the management of the crossing point on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in Rafah (EUBAM Rafah).
The Council of the EU extended the mandate of these two missions, which are part of the common security and defence policy (CSDP), until 30 June 2016. EUPOL COPPS has a budget of €9.175 million for the period from 1 July 2015 until 30 June 2016. The EUBAM Rafah budget will be €1.272 million for the same period. EUBAM Rafah's activities were suspended at the end of 2007 but the legal framework and a core of a few experts have been maintained in order to enable rapid redeployment should the border be re-opened. (Jan Kordys)