Council Decision 2008/918/CFSP of 8 December 2008 on the launch of a European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta)
Date: 2008-11-08
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU military mission, Somalia, fight against crime, piracy, theft, vessel

9.12.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 330/19

III

(Acts adopted under the EU Treaty)

ACTS ADOPTED UNDER TITLE V OF THE EU TREATY

COUNCIL DECISION 2008/918/CFSP

of 8 December 2008

on the launch of a European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention
and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in
particular Article 17(2) thereof,

Having regard to Council
Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP of
10 November 2008 on a European Union military operation
to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of
the Somali coast (1)
acts of piracy and armed robbery off
(ATALANTA), and in particular Article 5 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

In its Resolution 1814 (2008) on the situation in
Somalia, adopted on 15 May 2008, the UN Security
Council called on States and regional organisations,
in
close coordination with one another, to take action to
protect shipping involved in the transport and delivery of
humanitarian
and UN-authorised
activities.

Somalia

aid

to

In its Resolution 1816 (2008) on the situation in
the UN Security
Somalia, adopted on 2 June 2008,
Council expressed its concern at the threat that acts of
piracy and armed robbery against vessels pose to the
delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia, the safety of
commercial maritime routes and international navigation.
The UN Security Council encouraged, in particular, States
interested in the use of commercial maritime routes off
the coast of Somalia to increase and coordinate their
efforts to deter acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea
in cooperation with the Transitional Federal Government
of Somalia (TFG).

with a view to implementing Resolutions 1814 (2008)
and 1816 (2008), and urged all States that have the
capacity to do so to cooperate with the TFG in the
fight against piracy and armed robbery at
in
conformity with the provisions of Resolution 1816
(2008). It also urged all States and regional organisations,
in conformity with the provisions of Resolution 1814
(2008),
the
World Food Programme maritime convoys, which is
to bring humanitarian assistance to the Somali
vital
population.

to continue to take action to protect

sea,

(4)

(5)

(6)

The Somali Transitional Federal Government informed
the United Nations Secretary-General by letter dated
14 November 2008 of
in
conformity with paragraph 7 of Resolution 1816 (2008).

the offer made to it,

The European Union may be brought
to rely on
subsequent UNSC resolutions regarding the situation in
Somalia.

In accordance with Article 6 of the Protocol on the
position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on
European Union and to the Treaty establishing the
European Community, Denmark does not participate in
the elaboration and implementation of decisions and
actions of the European Union which have defence impli­
in the
and therefore does not participate
cations
financing of the operation,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

(3)

In its Resolution 1838 (2008) concerning the situation in
Somalia, adopted on 7 October 2008, the UN Security
Council
commended the ongoing planning process
towards a possible European Union naval operation, as
initiatives taken
well as other international or national

(1) OJ L 301, 12.11.2008, p. 33.

Article 1

The Operation Plan and the Rules of Engagement concerning
the EU military operation to contribute to the deterrence,
prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed
robbery off
referred to as
‘Operation Atalanta’, are approved.

the Somali coast, hereinafter

L 330/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.12.2008

Operation Atalanta shall be launched on 8 December 2008.

Article 2

Article 3

The Commander of Operation Atalanta is hereby authorised with immediate effect to release the activation
order (ACTORD) in order to execute the deployment of the forces and start execution of the mission.

This Decision shall take effect on the day of its adoption.

Article 4

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 8 December 2008.

For the Council
The President

B. KOUCHNER