On Monday 30 July, by written procedure, the Council decided to transfer the operational headquarters of the European Union’s maritime force, EU NAVFOR Atalanta, from Northwood (United Kingdom) to Rota in Spain, except for the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) which will be based in Brest, in France (see EUROPE 12065).
The relocation will be effective as of 29 March 2019 to coincide with the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. In addition, again due to Brexit, Vice Admiral Antonio Martorell Lacave from the Spanish Navy will take over command from Major General Charlie Stickland on the same date.
The Council also decided to extend the mandate of the operation until 31 December 2020. It allocated €11.777 million to cover the common costs of the Atalanta operation for the period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020.
EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta contributes to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. It also ensures protection for World Food Programme vessels and other vulnerable shipping, monitors fishing activities off the coast of Somalia and supports other EU missions and programmes in the region, a Council press release states. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)