26/10/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 26 October, the EU's Political and Security Committee appointed Major General Charlie Stickland, a high-ranking military official in the Royal Marines, as new Operation Commander of the anti-piracy operation Atalanta. He will take up his duties on 7 November 2017, replacing compatriot Rob Magowan, who has held the post since June 2016, and who had in turn replaced another British national, Martin Smith. Launched in December 2008, Operation Atalanta "contributes to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast", the Council states in a press release. The operation also protects vessels of the World Food Programme and other vulnerable shipping, monitors fishing activities off the coast of Somalia and supports other EU missions and programmes in the region, the Council adds. (CG)