EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY—MISSION
FINANCING
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
I am writing to update you on the progress on
the financing of two European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)
Missions. The 20 November Agriculture and Fisheries Council is
due to agree new budgets for the European Union's Police Mission
in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Police Mission
for the Palestinian Territories.
EU POLICE MISSION
IN BOSNIA
AND HERZEGOVINA
The European Union's Police Mission in Bosnia
and Herzegovina continues to play a key role supporting police
reform in Bosnia. It has taken over the lead role in providing
assistance in the fight against organised crime from the European
Union's military presence. The police mission continues to develop
local capacity and has reported notable success in the area of
public order. The head of mission's assessment is that the local
police are now able to deal with all but the most extreme security
challenges. This has been achieved whilst tightening the focus
of the mandate and co-locating senior staff in order to reduce
the number of international staff.
The original Joint Action mandated the mission
for two years until the end of 2007, as explained in our initial
Explanatory Memorandum. The forthcoming Council Decision will
provide 12.15 million Euros funding for 2007. In addition to covering
operational costs for 2007, this sum also covers possible wind
down costs for the first half of 2008. We will continue to review
progress and to consult with other Member States on the future
of the mission during 2007.
EUROPEAN UNION
POLICE MISSION
FOR THE
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Established as an ESDP mission on 1 January
2006, the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories
aims to support the establishment of an effective Palestinian
Civil Police. Unfortunately, developments in the Occupied Territories
have prevented the mission from carrying out its full mandate.
Following the election of Hamas in the January 2006 legislative
elections, projects were suspended that could not be carried out
in line with the Quartet (the EU, United Nations, United States
and Russia) statements limiting engagement. The mission, however,
continues to play an important evaluating and monitoring role
and EU Member States are agreed that it is well placed to resume
fuller engagement should the political situation change.
The mission's mandate was agreed for three years
until the end of 2008 as you will know from our Explanatory Memorandum
on the initial Joint Action. The forthcoming Council Decision
will provide a 2.8 million Euro budget for 2007. This is lower
than this year (3.6 million Euro) because of reductions in personnel
as a result of its more limited role. The mission currently comprises
21 personnel instead of the 47 orignally planned.
1 November 2006
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