The Council of the European Union decided on Monday 21 February to extend the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept in the Gulf of Guinea by two years, until 2024.
In conclusions adopted by the Council, the concept has proven to be “an effective and useful instrument, contributing to maritime security in the [Gulf of Guinea] as part of the EU’s Integrated Approach” (see EUROPE 12871/17, 12890/9). It also encourages close cooperation between the EU and West and Central African states.
See the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/ew
The Council also decided to launch the implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept in the north-west Indian Ocean by establishing a Maritime Area of Interest covering the maritime area from the Strait of Hormuz to the Southern Tropic and from the north of the Red Sea towards the centre of the Indian Ocean (see EUROPE 12876/4).
In its conclusions, it calls for the development of a coherent global approach to the Indian Ocean, built around a concept of inclusive cooperation with partners in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
See the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/ex
This new Coordinated Maritime Presence will be discussed in one of the round tables organised as part of the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which is taking place this Tuesday in Paris. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)