The European External Action Service (EEAS) has proposed to the ambassadors of the Member States, meeting in the Political and Security Committee (PSC), to extend the European coordinated maritime presences in the Gulf of Guinea for 2 years, starting this January.
The PSC ambassadors will discuss the issue on Wednesday.
In the review of the pilot case of the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept, dated 12 January and seen by EUROPE, the EEAS considers that the full implementation of the pilot will contribute to more focused EU support to coastal states and the Yaoundé Architecture organisations. “It will also provide a more effective and substantial contribution to addressing maritime security issues as part of the EU’s integrated approach in the Gulf of Guinea”, an area of piracy, trafficking and illegal fishing, the document adds.
The five Member States that deployed naval assets to the Gulf in 2021 should also do so in 2022. According to the EEAS, Denmark will deploy resources for 4 months, Spain for 7.5 months, France for 11 months, Italy for 8 months and Portugal for 3.5 months. For the time being, no Member State vessels will be deployed in the area next August.
Furthermore, according to the EEAS, in the first quarter of 2022 the European Commission intends to present for adoption a new action through the rapid response mechanism of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). “The overall objective of the action is to enhance the coherence of EU efforts in the region, in particular by supporting the newly appointed EU lead coordinator” for maritime safety in the Gulf of Guinea, the document says.
Several actions are planned within in this framework. This includes support for the EU’s political engagement in the region, including support for the process leading to agreements with coastal states on the surrender of suspected pirates, and strengthening coordination and synergies between the actions of the EU, EU Member States and third countries. Other areas of action include technical assistance and/or capacity building for coastal states and support for EU strategic communication and public diplomacy.
The EEAS also explains that the European Peace Facility could complement the coordinated maritime presences pilot project by providing adequate support to enhance the capabilities of navies and military actors of selected coastal states involved in maritime safety operations. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)