EU to provide over €37 million to fight piracy in Eastern and Southern Africa

EU to provide over €37 million to fight piracy in Eastern and Southern
Africa

InvestinEU.com
21 May 2013

The EU will provide some €37 million to strengthen the fight against piracy
in several Eastern and Southern African countries through support for the
Programme to promote Regional Maritime Security (MASE).

In the past decade, the level of maritime insecurity in the region's waters
has become the highest in the world, undermining development and affecting
the wellbeing of millions of people.

The EU has been present in the region already since 2008 to address the
deteriorating situation and to harden ships against attack. Thanks to these
efforts piracy has decreased from 299 attacks in 2011 to 111 in 2012 (a
reduction of over 62%), while the number of hijackings dropped from 25 to 12. So
far, attacks remain at this low level in 2013. Yet the situation remains
reversible.

"This new European support marks a step forward in the fight against piracy
because it demonstrates the EU's on-going commitment to combatting this
complex problem. Strengthening security in the maritime routes is crucial for
us because it will help boosting trade and growth in the region, which
would enormously improve people's lives." said Development Commissioner Andris
Piebalgs.

"This new funding is another sign of our commitment to stamping out piracy.
It forms part of our comprehensive approach to assisting countries in the
region, which means that we deal with the causes as well as the symptoms of
piracy. We have made huge strides over last few years, and this money will
help to build on the progress we have made by strengthening legal systems,
improving financial controls and training young men to find alternatives
to piracy." said High Representative Catherine Ashton.

The new programme will help to develop the legal and judicial system of
countries in the region, so that they are better equipped for the arrest and
transfer of pirates. Financial oversight systems will also be strengthened,
by providing training for the authorities to prevent the movement of funds
contributing to, or resulting from piracy. Capacity-building (for example,
sharing expertise and implementing training), and providing material
logistic support on security, will help to improve surveillance and patrol of the
coastline.

In Somalia, in particular, the programme will also carry out anti-piracy
awareness campaigns in areas where piracy is prevalent; as well as providing
vulnerable groups of young men with training so that they successfully
pursue alternative vocations. In this way, Somali administration and
communities will be helped to initiate home-grown solutions to these problems.

Background

The MASE programme is part of a wider package of development and political
efforts by the European Union in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region. EU
support to the region has enabled the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) to reach its total strength of 17,731 uniformed personnel, and access
to basic, primary and secondary education for more than 40,000 students
since 2010.

Some EU programmes addressing piracy and armed robbery in the region
include: the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA), and the
implementation of Best Management Practices, or BMPs, (self-protection
measures guidelines to reduce the threat of Somali piracy), the Instrument for
Stability Critical Maritime Routes Programme projects for the Western Indian
Ocean, in particular through information sharing and maritime law
enforcement capacity building; as well as the EUCAP Nestor Mission on Regional
Maritime Capacity Building.

This programme follows on from an initial preparatory MASE project, which
was approved at the end of 2011, and is being financed from the 10th
European Development Fund, under the Eastern and Southern Africa and Western
Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) region. It involves countries belonging to four regional
organisations (COMESA, the EAC, the IOC and IGAD).

For more information:

Website of DG Development and Cooperation- EuropeAid

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Website of the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/piebalgs/index_en.htm

Website of the European External Action Service

http://www.eeas.europa.eu/piracy/

Somalia London Conference:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/somalia-conference-2013

21 May 2013