Brussels, 10/11/2008 (Agence Europe) -On Monday 10 November, the "Jumbo" Council adopted a common action launching the EU's first aeronaval operation, to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia (see EUROPE 9778). This operation, which has been named ATALANTA, aims to protect ships of the WFP (World Food Programme) bringing food aid to displaced populations in Somalia, and other vulnerable ships sailing along the coast of Somalia. It also aims to prevent, discourage and intervene to put an end to acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia, in line with resolution 1816 of the United Nations Security Council. In conclusions adopted in this field (European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)), the Council hopes that the operation will get underway in early December.
This will give the commander of the operation, British Rear-Admiral Philip Jones, just under a month to conclude the operational planning (adopting the concept of operations and the plan of operations), and to get together sufficient vessels to take part in the operation. For the time being, only France and Spain have decided to make their military resources available to the operation in the region (one French frigate and a Spanish maritime surveillance aircraft). Other Member States, such as Spain for a second vessel and Germany, have voiced their intentions of contributing to the forces. The European forces will be able to operate within 500 nautical miles of the coast of Somalia and of its neighbour countries. Apart from the protection of vessels belonging to the WFP, the mission's mandate will also include surveillance of areas of the coast of Somalia, including its territorial waters which present risks for maritime traffic. The European forces will also have the right to apprehend, detain and transfer people who have committed or who are suspected of having committed acts of piracy. This means that people apprehended may be transferred to the authorities of the State whose flag is flown by the vessel taking part in the operation which carried out the arrest, or, if the first option is not available, to any other State wishing to carry out its jurisdiction on persons (or their goods). The conditions for the transfer will, nonetheless, be strictly governed by the international law applicable, particularly as regards human rights, in order to guarantee that nobody will be subjected to torture, the death penalty or any other cruel treatment. The joint costs of the operation will be managed by the funding mechanism for military operations of the EU, Athena. The total of these costs is likely to be 8.3 million euros. The headquarters of the operation has been established at Northwood in the United Kingdom. The operation will end 12 months after the declaration of its initial operating capability (IOC). (A.By./trans.fl)