Council of the European Union
EU NAVFOR Somalia
Deeply concerned by the outbreak of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali
coast, the Council of the European
Union decided to launch EU NAVFOR Somalia military operation
in support of UN Security Council Resolutions 1816, 1814 and 1838, as part of the EU’s overall action to
stabilise the country.
EU NAVFOR Somalia (Operation ATALANTA) has been established to provide:
- Protection to vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering food aid
to displaced persons in Somalia
- Protection to vulnerable vessels off the Somali coast
- Deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off
the Somali coast.
This undertaking, the first ever EU maritime operation, is conducted within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
In September 2008 the Council established a small coordination cell in Brussels (EU NAVCO) to
support surveillance and protection operations led by certain Member States in the Somali region.
Then, on 10 November 2008 the Council of the European Union adopted a Joint Action on EU NAVFOR
Somalia. EU NAVCO operations were subsumed into the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa).
The Mission formally launched on 8 December 2008. Since then MSC(HOA) has provided a significant,
coordinated military presence in the region.
Go to the Council of the European Union's page for EU NAVFOR operation