28/06/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Friday, 28 June, the Council of the EU extended the mandates of its two Common Security and Defence Policy missions in Palestine for 12 months, i.e. until 30 June 2020, by written procedure: EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah. The Council of the EU also allocated €12.43 million to EUPOL COPPS, the mission’s activities in support of the Palestinian police, for the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. EUBAM Rafah, the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah crossing, has been allocated a budget of €2.15 million for the same period. The mission, which was established in 2005, has been on standby since 2007 when Hamas came to power in Gaza, but has been consistently renewed since that time. (CG)