Prague, 13/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 12 March, EU defence ministers expressed great satisfaction at the results of the EU-led operation to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia (EU Navfor Atalanta), and did not rule out the possibility that it would be extended. A mid-term report is due during June, after which the EU is expected to decide what the future of its first maritime operation will be. “All those taking part were more inclined to continue” beyond December 2009 when the current mandate for operations ends, said Javier Solana after the first day of the informal meeting of EU defence ministers. He welcomed the “constructive position” taken by the United Kingdom, which is willing to make its Northwood operations headquarters available for the operation for another year.
Launched in December 2008 as the EU's contribution to the global effort to combat piracy, the operation has above all had a deterrent impact by preventing a significant number of pirate attacks against ships and humanitarian convoys navigating in waters off the Somali coast. During the first three months of the operation, EU ships have escorted 15 World Food Programme (WFP) vessels, thus guaranteeing safe delivery of 81,000 tonnes of food aid for 1.5 million persons. Four more WFP vessels will benefit from this kind of escort during March. Addressing the EU defence ministers, Mr Solana said that other non-EU member states were intending to contribute. Norway will be providing a frigate in August for six months and the Swiss government has expressed its readiness to contribute special forces, once parliament gives its approval. Greece will hand over command of the force to Spain on 6 April and, after four months, a Dutch ship will take over from that of Spain. (A.By./transl.jl)