On Saturday 5 May, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said she hoped a decision regarding the new seat of the operational headquarters (OHQ) for the counter-piracy operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta, would be taken at the end of this month or early next month.
Spain (Rota) together with France (Brest) are competing with Italy (Rome) to host the operation’s OHQ, which is expected to pull out of Northwood (UK) once Brexit is complete (see EUROPE 12009).
“This is a decision that ministers will need to take – it is not taken yet – by unanimity, I hope by the end of May beginning of June, in order to be able to start a smooth transfer of the headquarters”, Mogherini told the press after the informal Defence Council in Sofia.
Discussion on the subject is due to be held on 14 May between ambassadors on the Political and Security Committee, one European source says. Initially planned for Tuesday 6 May, discussion was postponed at the request of the three member states concerned.
Without wishing to specify on which country her choice would focus, the High Representative underlined that it is important to ensure “a smooth, effective, operational set up”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)