Regional Operational Centre in Khartoum (ROCK) in support of the Khartoum Process, the African Union Horn of Africa Initiative and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) ¿ phase II The Action presented as part of this individual measure is key to the EU¿s external action on migration in Africa. It responds to the priority 6 / Specific objective 1 of the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), the partnership on migration and mobility of the Joint Communication `Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa¿, the EU AU Continent to Continent Migration and Mobility dialogue priorities, and is aligned with the Joint Valetta Action Plan.It also responds to the Africa regional Multi-Annual Indicative Programme Priority 6 (Migration, mobility and forced displacement) in particular Result 1.5 (Fighting against trafficking of human beings and smuggling of migrants within and from the African continent is strengthened).The Action proposed aims to contribute to reduce the number of incidents of trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants in the Horn, East and Central Africa and enhance victims¿ protection.The specific objectives of this Action are: (i) enhanced regional/continental/international law enforcement cooperation in the fight against criminal networks engaged in smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings (LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION) ; (ii) Strengthened criminal justice chain against suspected traffickers and smugglers, from information collection and sharing to prosecution (LAW ENFORCEMENT-JUSTICE NEXUS); and (iii) Facilitated transition from the ROCK to AU¿s Khartoum Centre in accordance with a roadmap jointly prepared with the AU and safeguarding the ROCK model, acquis and operational focus (LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY).This Action is key to ensure the prompt continuation of the first phase of the ROCK project and thus to make sure that the important achievements in the field of regional cooperation between law enforcement and judicial bodies in the fight against the trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants across the Horn and East Africa are sustained. Moreover, the Action is also a unique opportunity to support the transition of the existing regional center into a continental AU body, namely the AU Continental Khartoum center that is about to be rolled out, and thus to ensure the center institutional ground and long-term sustainability.As this Action is the continuation of an ongoing project (ROCK), it should be implemented in direct management by the same entities, namely CIVIPOL (lead-applicant) and Interpol (co-applicant). CIVIPOL and Interpol are in a unique position to implement the second phase having unique knowledge and experience with the tasks and stakeholders concerned. The specific characteristics of the Action ¿ provision of a secure information exchange system (i24/7 INTERPOL information system, in this case), as well as of specific technical support on criminal intelligence through a range of tools and services internationally recognised and used - require a particular type of beneficiary on account of its technical competence and high degree of specialisation.The indicative operational implementation period of this Action is 54 months from the date of adoption by the Commission of this Financing Decision.