16 EU assistance to the Palestinian Territories
| (26957)
—
| Joint Action on the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories
|
| Legal base | Articles 14, 25, 26, and 28(3) TEU; unanimity
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration | EM of 27 October 2005
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| To be discussed in Council | 7 November General Affairs and External Relations Council
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
16.1 An EU Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support
(EU COPPS) was established in January 2005 within the office of
the EU Special Representative (EUSR) to the Middle East Peace
Process.[38] It currently
consists of four police advisers seconded and funded by Sweden,
Denmark, the United Kingdom and Spain and a local office manager
based in the PNA Ministry of Interior in Ramallah, a liaison office
in Jerusalem and a forward office in the Palestinian Police HQ
in Gaza. Non-personnel related start-up and running costs for
EU COPPS are funded by the UK Department for International Development
until 31 December 2005.
The draft Joint Action
16.2 At the 18 July GAERC, EU Foreign Ministers discussed the
possibility of an ESDP mission to build on the work that the EU
COPPS is undertaking. The draft Joint Action reflects the preparatory
work by the Council Secretariat, including an earlier fact-finding
mission under the guidance of the Political and Security Committee
(PSC).[39] The plan currently
under consideration would see the ESDP mission build on the current
EU-COPPS police support mission with staff increasing to 33.
The mission, which would continue to be known as EU-COPPS, would
be expected to launch on 1 January 2006, with a three-year mandate.
16.3 In his 27 October Explanatory Memorandum, the
Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Mr Douglas Alexander) says that the aim of this "measured
increase over the [current] EU-COPPS mission" is to "contribute
to the establishment of sustainable and effective policing arrangements
under Palestinian ownership, in cooperation with the European
Community's wider institution building programmes as well as other
international efforts in the context of justice reform".
It would support both institutional change and capacity-building
of the Palestinian police "together with wider Rule of Law
elements with aim of creating an effective Palestinian police
force". In particular, the Mission would:
- 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; and
- advise on police-related Criminal Justice elements.
16.4 The Minister adds that:
- "The security situation
will be closely monitored by the mission in co-ordination with
the Council Secretariat. The mission will apply specific minimum
security standards that are being developed by the Council Secretariat's
Security Office. The Palestinian Authority will also be required
to take necessary and appropriate measures to ensure the security
of the mission members. Additionally mission personnel will undergo
mandatory security training organised by the Council Security
Office.
- "EU COPPS has been established in full partnership
with the Palestinian Authority. Since its inception, EU COPPS
has closely co-ordinated with the US Security Co-ordinator General
Ward. EU COPPS has worked in full transparency with Israeli Authorities.
Where required, political consultations and technical co-ordination
have been held, on a regular basis, with relevant Israeli interlocutors.
- "Mission personnel will be seconded by EU
Member States together with other third county contributors. The
current Head of Mission (HoM) of EU-COPPS is Jonathan McIvor
(UK). Staff for the ESDP mission have yet to be appointed but
we will be looking to see how the UK can best contribute once
job descriptions have been confirmed. To ensure effective coordination
with other EU actors on the ground the mandate of the EUSR is
being amended to take account of the new ESDP mission. The EUSR
is expected to give guidance to the Head of Mission/Police Commissioner".
16.5 As is customary with ESDP missions, control
of the mission will come under the responsibility of the Council,
with political control being exercised by the PSC.
The Government's view
16.6 The Minister says:
- "Our objective has been
to find a way to continue Palestinian policing support with greater
EU support and funding.
- "The ESDP proposal envisages a three year
mandate, longer than normal, but we consider this is necessary
if the EU is to support the Palestinian's comprehensive Police
Development Programme (PDP). The PDP, developed jointly by EU
COPPS and the Palestinian Police, is divided into longer term
institutional change work and shorter term capacity building elements
and is designed to support the development of a transparent and
accountable Palestinian police force with the capacity to fulfil
an effective and robust role. The commitment of the ESDP mission
to the PDP will ensure continuity with EU COPPS earlier work.
- "The proposals recognise that close cooperation
with wider international efforts, including the European Commission's
institution building work, will be essential to the success of
the EU follow-on ESDP mission.
- "More widely, the mission reflects our desire
to support the Palestinian Authority in complying with its Roadmap-obligations,
in particular with regard to 'security' and 'institution-building'.
In parallel the support of the EU also aims to increase the safety
and security of the Palestinian population and support the Palestinian
Authority in reinforcing the rule of law".
16.7 On the Financial Implications, the Minister
explains that funding for Common Costs (HQ, in-country transport,
office equipment, etc.) for 2006 is expected to be in the region
of €6.1 million (£4.16 million), which will be met
from the CFSP budget, to which the UK contributes approximately
17% (€1.04 million, £0.707 million); and that the cost
of any UK policing expertise contributed to the mission would
come from the Whitehall Peacekeeping Budget, "which is a
call on the Treasury's central contingency reserve".
Conclusion
16.8 We consider elsewhere in this Report a Commission
Communication on "EU-Palestinian Co-operation beyond disengagement
— towards a two-stage solution", which examines more
broadly how the EU might best contribute to the impetus given
to the Middle East Peace Process by Israeli disengagement from
Gaza and parts of the northern West Bank settlements.[40]
In the meantime, we are content with the current proposal, which
seems both sensible and well-prepared, and are reporting it to
the House in view of the widespread interest in both European
Security and Defence Policy and the Peace Process.
16.9 We now clear the document.
38 EU Special Representatives (EUSR) are appointed
to represent Common Foreign and Security Policy where the Council
agrees that an additional EU presence on the ground is needed
to deliver the political objectives of the Union. The aim of the
EUSRs is to represent the EU in troubled regions and countries
and to play an active part in promoting the interests and the
policies of the EU. There are currently seven EUSRs in different
regions of the world. Back
39
The committee of senior officials from national delegations who,
under article 25 of the EU Treaty, monitor the international situation
in areas covered by the CFSP and, under the general responsibility
of the Council, exercise political control and strategic direction
of crisis management operations. Back
40
Paragraph 16 of this Report. Back
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