On Friday 29 June, the Council of the EU extended the mandate of the EU co-ordinating office for Palestinian police support (EUPOL COPPS), as well as the mandate of the EU border assistance mission for the Rafah crossing point (EUBAM Rafah) until 30 June 2019.
In a press release, the Council states that EUPOL COPPS has been assisting the Palestinian Authority in building the institutions of a future state of Palestine in the areas of policing and criminal justice since January 2006. Around €12.67 million has been allocated for the mission's activities between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019.
EU BAM Rafah is mandated to provide a third party presence at the Rafah crossing point to contribute to building confidence between the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including through building up the Palestinian capacity on all aspects of border management at Rafah. The mission was established in 2005 and has been on standby since 2007 and the arrival of Hamas in power in Gaza, while maintaining a readiness to redeploy to the Rafah crossing point once the political and security situation allows. The mission's budget for the period between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 amounts to €2.04 million. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)