10/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 10 December, the EU Council extended the mandate of the EU capacity-building mission in Somalia, EUCAP Somalia, until 31 December 2020. It also approved a budget of €66.1 million for the period from1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. Launched in July 2012 under the name of EUCAP Nestor and amended in 2016, the mission mandate is to enhance Somalia's maritime civilian law enforcement capacity, through supporting Somali authorities in developing the necessary legislation, strengthening the criminal justice chain in the maritime field and providing training and equipment. The mission also provides advice on policy to the Somali ministry of internal security and the police. EUCAP Somalia, based in Mogadishu, is led by Romanian Maria-Cristina Stepanescu. (CG)