Brussels, 13/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 9 September, the EU Council of Ministers adopted a joint action on the European Union's surveillance mission in Aceh (Indonesia). The mission will be tasked with monitoring implementation of the peace agreement signed on 15 August between the government of Djakarta and the separatist rebels of the Indonesian province of Aceh. The “operational phase” of the mission that the EU is conducting with five countries of South-East Asia (Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Philippines) under the leadership of Pieter Feith of the Netherlands, will begin as planned on 15 September. The budget for the operation is EUR 15 million (EUR 9 million from the EU budget plus EUR 6 million paid out by Member States). The mission includes the despatch of 227 civilian experts whose aim it will be to verify that the rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have been disarmed and demobilised, and that the large part of the Indonesian forces of the province have withdrawn. The observation mission, in which Norway and Switzerland are also playing a part, will end on 15 March 2006. (Source: Our publication Atlantic News)