On Monday 8 May 2017, the EU’s Ambassador to Somalia, Ms Veronique Lorenzo, hosted the Somali Prime Minister, H.E. Hasan Ali Khaire, and State Minister, Abdullahi Hamud, on board EU NAVFOR’s Spanish flagship, ESPS Galicia, in order to discuss development in Somalia and EU’s efforts to combat piracy.
In addition, the visit was an opportunity to update the Somali delegation on the recent piracy attacks and to highlight EU NAVFOR’s counter-piracy efforts and its protection of World Food Programme vessels, that carry food aid to the people of Somalia.
EU NAVFOR’s contribution to the monitoring of fishing activity off the coast and support to other EU missions to strengthen maritime security and capacities in the Horn of Africa region were also highlighted.
The Head of the EU Capacity Building Mission EUCAP Somalia, Ms Maria-Christina Stepanescu, commented: “Our mission works on a daily basis to assist Somalia in developing its maritime capacity building. We are committed to supporting the shaping of an effective Somali Coast Guard.”
In order to align its various programmes, the EU applies a multi-agency or ‘comprehensive approach’ to its support to Somalia, based on active diplomacy and support to the political process, security sector reform, development assistance and humanitarian aid. The collective aim is to tackle both the symptoms and root causes of piracy.
Last year, the EU extended the mandates of Operation Atalanta and EUCAP Somalia to the end of December 2018, in order to continue the deployment of EU NAVFOR warships in the Horn of Africa, as well as joint training and mentoring activities. The effort aims at:
- deterring pirate activities,
- protecting vulnerable vessels,
- safeguarding WFP ships delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia and
- developing Somalia’s federal and regional civilian maritime law enforcement authorities.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Lorenzo said: “Today’s engagement in particular has helped both parties to better understand the recent piracy incidents off the coast. The EU will continue to work with Somali authorities to help develop a well-regulated maritime sector and to support the development of law enforcement capabilities.”
Furthermore, the EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Fernandez-Pintado Munoz-Rojas, went on to affirm Operation Atalanta’s role in monitoring fishing activities during their counter-piracy patrols, informing that EU NAVFOR gathers information on vessels actively engaged in fishing in Somali waters and passes it to the EU’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE) for further investigation.
This is the fourth time that ESPS Galicia has deployed off the coast of Somalia with Operation Atalanta, with her deployment being part of Spain’s permanent commitment to EU NAVFOR since December 2008. As well as contributing ships, maritime patrol aircraft and personnel to EU NAVFOR, Spain also has units with the other EU sister missions in the region, such as EUTM and EUCAP Somalia.