Luxembourg, 25 June 2024
The Council today decided to prolong until 30 June 2025 the mandates of two of its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) civilian missions: the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) and the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS).
EUBAM Rafah was launched in November 2005, following the Israeli disengagement from Gaza. In its current stand-by mode, EUBAM Rafah continues to advise and provide technical assistance on integrated border management to the Palestinian General Administration for Borders and Crossings based in Jericho and support projects on trade facilitation and processing of biometric passports.
EUBAM Rafah is furthermore mandated to provide a third-party presence at the Rafah Crossing Point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and to build confidence between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This part of the mandate is on hold since Hamas take-over of Gaza in 2007. However, the mission maintains its readiness to redeploy to the Rafah crossing point once all necessary conditions are in place for an effective and safe deployment. Its Head of Mission is Ms Nataliya Apostolova.
EUPOL COPPS was launched in January 2006 and it is headed by Ms Karin Limdal. The mission’s current mandate focuses on support to the Palestinian Civil Police and wider justice institutions, in the areas of policing and wider criminal justice arrangements, contributing to Palestinian security and justice sector reforms.
In its conclusions of 21 and 22 March 2024, the European Council reiterated that the EU remains firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution and that Palestinians and Israelis have an equal right to live in safety, dignity, and peace. The European Council also recalled that the EUPOL COPPS and EU BAM Rafah can play an important role in support of Palestinian state-building efforts.
- EUBAM Rafah website
- EUPOL COPPS website
- European Council conclusions, 21 and 22 March 2024
- Israel/Palestine: Statement by the HR on behalf of the EU in support of the three-phase roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and release of hostages (4 June, 2024)