26/06/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday, 26 June, the Council of the EU decided to renew the mandates of the EU’s Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) and its Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) for one year, that being until 30 June 2026. According to its press release, the EU Council decided to equip EUBAM Rafah with a ‘project cell’ enabling it to implement projects, including those with external funding. In February 2025, the mission was temporarily redeployed to the Rafah crossing for a few weeks. The Council of the EU affirmed, “The mission maintains its readiness to redeploy [...] once all necessary conditions are in place”. Launched in 2006, EUPOL COPPS is tasked with supporting the Palestinian Civil Police as well as judicial institutions in the areas of policing and broader criminal justice arrangements. (CG)