EU Council establishes EU police mission in the Palestinian territories – EU press release/Non-UN document

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 14 November 2005

14402/05 (Presse 295)

Council establishes EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories

The Council adopted a joint action establishing an EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories under the European Security and Defence Policy (13696/05). The mission, code-named EUPOL-COPPS, will have a long term reform focus and will provide enhanced support to the Palestinian Authority in establishing sustainable and effective policing arrangements.

The operational phase of the mission will start no later than 1 January 2006. The mission, which will have a three-year mandate, will assist in the implementation of the Palestinian Civil Police Development Plan, advise and mentor senior members of the Palestinian Civil Police and criminal justice system and co-ordinate EU and, where requested, international assistance to the Palestinian Civil Police. The mission will act in close co-operation with the European Community's institution building programmes as well as other international efforts in the security sector and judicial reform.

It will build on the work of the EU Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EU COPPS) established in April 2005 within the office of the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Marc Otte.

The Council also adopted a joint action amending the mandate of the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process in order to take into account the new police mission (13526/05).

Enclosed: Factsheet on EUPOL-COPPS

14402/05 (Presse 295) 2

EU COUNCIL SECRETARIAT

~FACTSHEET~

EUPOL-COPPS/01

November 2005

European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories

( EUPOL-COPPS )

The European Union is preparing an "EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories" due to start on 1 January 2006. Code-named EUPOL-COPPS, this Mission will support the Palestinian Authority in establishing sustainable and effective policing arrangements.

Aims and Scope of EUPOL-COPPS

EUPOL-COPPS will be a civilian mission in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

EUPOL-COPPS will aim at contributing to the establishment of sustainable and effective policing arrangements under Palestinian ownership in accordance with best international standards. More specifically the tasks of the new Mission are as follows:

• Assist the Palestinian Civil Police in implementation of the Police Development Programme by advising and closely mentoring the Palestinian Civil Police, and specifically senior officials at District, Headquarters and Ministerial level;

• Co-ordinate and facilitate EU Member State assistance, and – where requested – international assistance to the Palestinian Civil Police;

• Advise on police-related Criminal Justice elements.

The new Mission will act in close co-operation with the European Community's institution building programmes as well as other international efforts in the security sector including criminal justice reform.

EUPOL-COPPS will be set in the wider context of the international community’s effort to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity. Close co-ordination between the Mission and other international actors involved in security assistance, including the US Security Coordinator, as well as those providing support to the Ministry of Interior, will be ensured.

EUPOL-COPPS will build on the work of the EU Co-ordination Office for Palestinian Police Support (EU COPPS)¹.

Size, Structure and Budget of the Mission

• EUPOL-COPPS will include approximately 33 unarmed personnel mainly seconded from EU Member States². The Mission personnel will not have executive powers.

• The operational phase of the Mission will begin on 1 January 2006. EUPOL-COPPS will have an initial duration of 3 years.

• The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the Mission until the end of 2006 will be 6.1 million euros (common costs).

Political control

• The EU's Political and Security Committee will exercise, under the responsibility of the EU Council, the political control and strategic direction of the Mission. High Representative Javier Solana will give guidance to the Head of Mission through the EU Special Representative for the MEPP.

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¹ EU COPPS was established in January 2005 within the office of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) to the Middle East Process, Marc Otte. It aims at assisting the Palestinian Authority in developing a modern and effective civil police service.

² A number of third countries will also be invited to contribute to the Mission.

Background

• At the European Council of 17 and 18 June 2004, EU leaders reaffirmed the readiness of the EU to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.

• In July 2005, EU foreign ministers reiterated the EU's commitment to contributing to the development of Palestinian security capacity through the Palestinian Civil Police, in co-ordination with the US Security Co-ordinator. They also agreed in principle that EU support to the Palestinian Civil Police should take the form of an ESDP mission building on the work of the EU Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support in cooperation with all parties concerned.

• The EU is the largest donor to the Palestinians.

• The EU has been at the forefront of efforts for peace in the Middle East, and is an active member of the Quartet alongside its partners the US, Russia and the UN.  Resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict is a strategic priority for Europe¹. Accordingly, the EU is a facilitator in the Middle East Peace Process, notably through regular meetings with the main actors involved; visits to the Near East by EU leaders and the activities of the EU High Representative Javier Solana, as well as the EU Special Representative for the Peace Process, Ambassador Marc Otte.

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¹ See "A Secure Europe in a Better World: The European Security Strategy", approved by the European Council on 12 December 2003.

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