6.9.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 342/173 Thursday 17 February 2022
CSDP missions and operations in 2020 — assessment and recommendations
8.
Recalls that the Union is currently deploying 11 civilian missions and seven military missions and operations; recalls that only three of these are operations with an executive mandate: European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Somalia Operation ATALANTA, EUNAVFOR Mediterranean Operation IRINI (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) and the EU military force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR ALTHEA); recalls the EU’s overall engagement in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa through six civilian missions (the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali), EUCAP Sahel Niger, EUCAP Somalia) and six military missions (the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), EUTM Somalia, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI); notes that these missions and operations have not yet realised their full potential and are suffering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected their activity and limited their effectiveness; suggests that the budget, planning and equipment of EU CSDP missions and operations be assessed in the light of the lessons learned from COVID-19 and therefore considers a review of results and possibly adapting their mandate as part of the standard strategic review of a mission;
9.
Underlines the importance for the Union of sustainable stability, human security and prosperity in its neighbourhood; notes that CSDP military missions are now almost exclusively focused on the training of armed forces (EUTMs), with no executive dimension and limited support; considers that, without affecting the non-executive dimension of these missions, their mandate should be strengthened, emphasising coaching, in order to enable European advisers to verify on the ground as precisely as possible whether the training programmes have been properly implemented and whether they are in line with the operational needs of the local armed forces;
10.
Stresses that the delivery of arms under the umbrella of the European Peace Facility should be in full respect of the EU Common Position on arms exports, international human rights law and humanitarian law, and include effective transparency provisions;
11.
Deplores the actions of the coup leaders in Mali; is deeply concerned at the lack of essential state services in Mali and in the Sahel in general; expresses its deep concern at deteriorating security in the region; is deeply concerned by the UN Secretary-General’s reports which list serious past and ongoing human rights abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law, including alleged war crimes, committed by armed groups including terrorist groups, Malian armed forces and other G5 Sahel armed forces; deeply deplores impunity in this respect and underlines that such ongoing crimes also undermine European and international efforts to create a secure and safe environment and combat armed groups and terrorists; stresses the increasing involvement of hostile actors in a region that is vital to our security, which could jeopardise the EU and Mali’s common objective of human security, peace, stability and sustainable development in the country, where other actors that do not necessarily share the same ethical principles as the EU and its Member States are willing to fill capability gaps, regardless of respect for the rule of law international standards or the law of war; expresses its grave concern at the growing influence of foreign private military companies and the possible plans of the Malian government to initiate cooperation with a private Russian military company, the Kremlin proxy Wagner Group, on training of its armed forces; points out that such cooperation is incompatible with security and defence cooperation with the EU, in particular EUTM Mali, and would therefore require the EU to reassess its engagement in Mali; urges the current Malian authorities to refrain from contracting the Wagner Group and allowing its personnel to enter Malian territory; underlines, more generally, the need to closely monitor the actions of private security and military companies which are increasing their global footprint in vulnerable areas including Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and recalls the importance of keeping Parliament briefed on the matter;
12.
Notes the announcement of the reorganisation of French military action in the Sahel, in conjunction and in consultation with our international and African partners; stresses that these developments should take place in close consultation with all international partners, particularly European ones, present in the Sahel; welcomes the continued commitment of the EU and the Member States to the stabilisation of the G5 Sahel countries, in particular through support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force, by strengthening the EU’s CSDP missions and the growing involvement of European Member States’ armed forces in the Takuba Task Force;
13.
Welcomes the adaptation of the new extended mandate of EUTM Mali; calls for strengthening structural cooperation and non-executive support to the armed forces and for speeding up the regionalisation process which enables the mission to provide military assistance to the armed forces of the G5 countries and in particular to Burkina Faso and Niger, which will have implications for international, European and African partners; underlines the possibilities opened up by the European Peace Facility with regard to the delivery of equipment intended for the training of the Malian armed forces,