Brussels, 06/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 29 July, at its last meeting before the summer break, the Political and Security Committee (COPS) approved the principle of coordinated action by the European Union to fight piracy off the Somali coast, as part of the implementation process of Resolution 1816 by the United Nations Security Council. No fewer than eleven member states took a clear position in favour of this action, whose framework and character will now need to be defined. This action could initially take the form of “light coordination” between the maritime resources of member states active in this zone. This coordination may also be up and running very soon, at the beginning of September, on the basis of the mandate provided by Resolution 1816. Many legal questions, however, will still need to be resolved beforehand, to enable, in particular, the inspection of boats and the organisation of detaining, transferring and carrying out legal proceedings against those apprehended in this context. Agreements are expected to be concluded to this end between Somalia and/or its neighbours, as well as states whose navies would carry out this kind of operation off these coast lines. Several member states have navies (mainly frigates of various tonnage) in the region: the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany and France, as part of Task Force 150, currently under Canadian command and which constitutes the maritime wing of the “Enduring Freedom” operation in Afghanistan and Denmark, which is currently participating in the protection of World Food Programme convoys. A contribution by Spain is also being examined. A first ever ESDP maritime surveillance operation may also follow this simple coordination, for which the operation modalities still need to be identified. The EU's Military Committee and Chief of Staff have been given responsibility for studying the different strategic options, in order to develop proposals after the summer break. (O.J./trans/rh)