C 342/176
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
6.9.2022
Thursday 17 February 2022
the EU Monitoring Mission unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia; denounces illegal detentions and kidnappings of Georgian citizens and the increased ‘borderisation’ activities along the Administrative Boundary Line; is concerned about the disinformation campaigns targeting the EUMM Georgia mission and calls for strengthening its capacities for monitoring, analysis and strategic communication; reaffirms its unwavering support to the EaP countries, and in particular for their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognised borders; encourages the EU to strengthen its engagement in peaceful conflict resolution throughout the EaP region; reiterates its call for the EU to ensure that the security dimension of EaP countries is properly reflected in the Strategic Compass and to consider launching a series of security compacts — frameworks for increased investment and assistance in security, military, intelligence and cyber cooperation — with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as associated countries, in order to strengthen their resilience and security;
21.
Notes the reinforcement of the EU advisory mission in Iraq (EUAM) with the inclusion of support to the implementation of the internal security reform and the implementation of national strategies to fight and prevent terrorism (including the fight against violent extremism) and organised crime, with specific reference to border management, financial crime, in particular corruption, money laundering and trafficking in cultural heritage property;
22.
Calls for the EU to address the consistent and growing threats to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage and to clamp down on the smuggling of cultural artefacts, especially in conflict zones; notes that in Iraq, depriving some communities of their cultural heritage and historical roots has made them more vulnerable to radicalisation; recalls that EUAM Iraq is the only CSDP mission or operation that has a cultural heritage protection component included in its mandate in order to provide assistance and education to local partners in addressing security challenges related to the preservation and protection of cultural heritage; calls on the Council and the EEAS to include a similar component in other missions and operations;
23.
Encourages the deployment of members of the European Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) mission to Tripoli, from which it will carry out its activities; proposes that this mission, which is engaged in supporting the Libyan authorities to dismantle the organised criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism in the areas of border management, should continue to explore within the framework of a regional strategy the possibilities of support for the EU-led development of the border capacities of the Sahel States in connection with CSDP missions in the Sahel (in particular EUCAP Sahel Niger); express its concerns at the fate of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Libya; calls for the closure of detention facilities for migrants by the Libyan authorities and militias;
24.
Welcomes the launch of the CSDP operation in the Mediterranean, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and its renewal until 31 March 2023; stresses its key role in the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2526 (2020); highlights that capacity building is disrupting human and weapons trafficking; the fact that, in 2020, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI received many refusals to allow inspections, even on Turkish vessels; calls for a transparent communication from the EEAS on this issue; notes that to date EUNAVFOR MED has very few assets, significantly limiting its capabilities; is concerned by the fact that NATO, which is active in the area through Operation Sea Guardian, is not effectively collaborating by means of increased cooperation cohesion or by sharing information and resources; stresses the strategic importance of public communication about the mission and its boardings of vessels, friendly approaches and inspections, including refusals; stresses the international obligations on search and rescue of people in distress at sea in full compliance with maritime law; calls for the EU to play a significant role in the Mediterranean, having become an actor able to guarantee the stability of the region; welcomes the results of the EU Liaison and Planning Cell (EULPC) in providing security, intelligence and planning expertise to EU actors in Brussels and on the ground or at sea (EU delegation, EUBAM, EUNAVFOR MED) and to the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL);
25.
Regrets Turkey’s overall destabilising role in many areas of concern in the EU and its neighbourhoods, which threatens regional peace, security and stability; is extremely concerned by, and strongly condemns Turkey’s illegal activities and threats of military action against EU Member States, in particular Greece and Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean and its newly announced illegal activities within Cypriot and Greek maritime zones; notes efforts to de-escalate tension, but regrets provocative actions, threats of aggression against operation MED IRINI by Turkish military vessels, in violation of international law and the sovereign rights of EU Member States; reiterates the Union’s readiness to use all instruments and