Press Release: EU Atalanta anti-piracy escorts: ships should register for protection

EU anti-piracy escorts off Somalia have sunk ships, destroyed weapons, intercepted vessels and thwarted direct attacks. No escorted ship has been successfully attacked by pirates, but vessels should register before crossing the Gulf of Aden, EU Naval Force Commander Rear Admiral Peter D. Hudson told MEPs on Monday. MEPs called for more effective protection for European fishing vessels.

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CNN: Pirates hijack tanker off Somali Coast

Pirates off Somalia's coast have hijacked a chemical tanker with a North Korean crew, European naval forces reported.

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AP: Somali pirates detained after firing on vessel

Somali pirates exchanged fire with a French fishing vessel on Wednesday and after speeding away were later stopped and detained by Spanish and German naval units, said the European Union anti-piracy force.

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Counter Piracy Commanders meet in Gulf of Aden

The Commanding Officers of the three largest Counter Piracy Task Forces in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean met on board the EU NAVFOR flagship HNLMS Evertsen on October 26 in the International Recognized Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

(and they had time for a little photo op)

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CNN: Pirates Seize Greek Ship

Pirates hijacked a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, the European Union's Maritime Security Center said.

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EU adopts joint action to launch “Atalanta” operation against piracy in the Somali coast

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The Official Journal of the European Union published on November, 12th, 2008, the Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP adopted on November, 10th, on a European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast. This action comes after the UNSC's and the Council's expressions of concern about the upsurge of piracy attacks off the Somali coast, which affect humanitarian efforts and international maritime traffic in the region and contribute to continued violations of the UN arms embargo.

Under this Joint Action the European Union will conduct a military operation, called “Atalanta Operatoin”, in support of Resolutions 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008) and 1838 (2008) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Such operation will be consistent with actions permitted with respect to piracy under Article 100 et seq. of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea signed in Montego Bay on December, 10th, and by means, in particular, of commitments made with third States.

These actions will contribute to:

• The protection of vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, in accordance with the mandate laid down in UNSC Resolution 1814 (2008).
• The protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, in accordance with the mandate laid down in UNSC Resolution 1816 (2008).

The forces deployed to that end will operate, up to 500 nautical miles off the Somali coast and neighbouring countries, in accordance with the political objective of an EU maritime operation, as defined in the crisis management concept approved by the Council on August, 5th, 2008.

“Atalanta” Operational objectives

• Provide protection to vessels chartered by the WFP, including by means of the presence on board those vessels of armed units of Atalanta, in particular when cruising in Somali territorial waters.
• Provide protection, based on a case-by-case evaluation of needs, to merchant vessels cruising in the areas where it is deployed.
• Keep watch over areas off the Somali coast, including Somalia's territorial waters, in which there are dangers to maritime activities, in particular to maritime traffic.
• Take the necessary measures, including the use of force, to deter, prevent and intervene in order to bring to an end acts of piracy and armed robbery which may be committed in the areas where it is present.
• In view of prosecutions potentially being brought by the relevant States, arrest, detain and transfer persons who have committed, or are suspected of having committed, acts of piracy or armed robbery in the areas where it is present and seize the vessels of the pirates or armed robbers or the vessels caught following an act of piracy or an armed robbery and which are in the hands of the pirates, as well as the goods on board.
• Liaise with organisations and entities, as well as States, working in the region to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, in particular the “Combined Task Force 150” maritime force which operates within the framework of “Operation Enduring Freedom”.

The appointed EU Operation Commander is Rear admiral Phillip Jones, and the EU Operational HQ will be located at Northwood, in the United Kingdom. Under the responsibility of the Council, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) will exercise the political control and strategic direction of the EU military operation.

The EU Military Committee (EUMC) will monitor the proper execution of the EU military operation conducted under the responsibility of the EU Operation Commander, and will periodically report to the PSC.

The Presidency, the SG/HR, the EU Operation Commander and the EU Force Commander will closely coordinate their respective activities regarding the implementation of this Joint Action.

DR Congo Unrest Worsens as EU Refuses Peacekeeping Mission

10 Nov. Atricle

DR Congo Unrest Worsens as EU Refuses Peacekeeping Mission

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Thousands have fled new fighting in eastern DR Congo as the humanitarian crisis widens

Fighting in new territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo has snuffed out hopes of a swift end to the conflict, but it was too early to send peacekeeping troops into the region, EU foreign ministers said Monday.

Eu starts antipiracy mission off Somalia

EU starts antipiracy mission off Somalia

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 20:25:00 11/10/2008

BRUSSELS—The European Union formally launched Monday an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia -- its first ever naval mission -- the EU's French presidency said.

Dubbed Operation Atalanta, the mission was endorsed by the bloc's defense ministers at talks in Brussels. EU ships will also help protect UN and other vulnerable vessels seeking to transport aid into strife-torn Somalia.

"I hope that it will be in place by December," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said, as the bloc's defense and foreign ministers held talks in Brussels.

The so-called EUNAVOR operation will be made up of at least seven ships, including three frigates and a supply vessel. It will also be backed by surveillance aircraft.

The mission will be run from a headquarters at Northwood, north of London, with contributions from France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain, with Portugal, Sweden and non-EU nation Norway also likely to take part.

EU to Send Warships to Combat Piracy Off Somali Coast

10 Nov Bloomberg

EU to Send Warships to Combat Piracy Off Somali Coast (Update2)

By Gregory Viscusi

Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- European Union member states agreed to send a fleet of warships to the Somali coast, joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and at least three other countries that have deployed naval vessels to combat pirates in the world's most dangerous seas.

The decision by defense and foreign ministers from the 27- member EU at a Brussels meeting today gives approval to an agreement reached at an informal gathering last month in Deauville, France.

The fleet, the first naval mission put together by the EU, will be in place by next month, French Defense Minister Herve Morin said at a press conference. The force will be called Atalanta and at least eight countries have pledged warships or patrol planes, he said.

``We've been faced with an unacceptable rise in piracy in the zone,'' said Morin. ``This operation is proof that a Europe of defense is starting to take shape.''

The one-year mission will be commanded by British Vice- Admiral Phillip Jones, based in Northwood near London, and operate out of the French military base in Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden. The cost is estimated at 8.3 million euros ($11 million), the EU said in a statement.

Pirate attacks climbed fivefold in the Gulf of Aden in the first nine months of this year as ransom payments spurred raiders to step up their activities, the International Maritime Bureau said last month. At least 60 boats have been attacked and more than 12 vessels and 259 crew members remain hostage.

EU to begin deployment against Somali pirates in December

Puntlandpost

Brussels - The deployment of warships from European Union states against pirates off the coast of Somalia is to begin in December, EU diplomats said Friday. The final decisions on the matter are to be taken on Monday at a EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.

The operation, to be called Atalanta, is to be led by an admiral from Britain's Northwood naval command, and tasked with protecting freighters against pirate attacks either off the Somali coast or on their way into Mogadishu ports.

The defence against pirates is to include the use of force if necessary, diplomats said. Pirates are not only to be combatted but detained if possible and brought before courts in the countries deploying the war ships.

Details of the deployment are to be decided later.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has also deployed warships against the Somali pirates.

The UN Security Council in June approved incursions into Somali waters to combat the pirates and the US Naval Central Command recently set up a security patrol in the area.

However, those measures appear to have had little effect so far, with estimates putting the number of pirates at well over 1,000, compared to only a few hundred in 2005.

Somali authorities and maritime officials say that paying ransoms has only encouraged more pirates to take to the seas.

The surge in piracy has coincided with a rise in violence in Somalia itself, where authorities in the central and southern region are battling a bloody insurgency.

The weak central government has been unable to suppress either the insurgency or the growing piracy.

The UN has authorized the use of force when dealing with pirates and the EU, NATO and other nations, including India, have sent frigates to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Somalia has been engulfed in chaos and civil war since the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.