On the evening of Tuesday 15 September, the European Parliament gave its backing to strengthening the EU's CSDP missions in Africa.
At the same time as they adopted the ‘Report on EU-Africa Security Cooperation in the Sahel Region, West Africa and the Horn of Africa’ prepared by Javier Nart (Renew Europe, Spain) by 427 votes to 128, with 140 abstentions, MEPs called for the European Peace Facility to be adequately funded.
MEPs are therefore asking the EU to re-design the format of the EUTM Mali, CAR and Somalia training missions, “in order to adapt them to better suit the real needs of the armed forces and populations”. They believe that EU trainers need to be empowered to select soldiers, in coordination with local military authorities, train them, supervise them and support them in the field once they have completed their training.
MEPs believe that the EU and its Member States must also strengthen their partners’ capacity by reviewing their security and defence commitments in the Sahel region, West Africa and the Horn of Africa, including by providing military equipment in line with the “do no harm” principle. MEPs particularly think that the EU and its Member States should help the G5 Sahel Joint Force to become operational by providing financial assistance, military equipment and training.
Parliament warned that, in order for this to be achieved, the European Peace Facility must be adequately endowed so that it is able to meet “the current challenges related to military training, operations, missions, projects and equipment (including arms, munitions and transport) in effectively”. The Council of the EU will therefore need to ensure that the Facility bypasses the current restrictions on the acquisition of arms and ammunition.
Finally, MEPs point out that there can be no security strategy without joint action on sustainable development and humanitarian aid. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)