Somalilandsun- Between November 24th and November 28th EUCAP Nestor’s Head of Mission Maria-Cristina Stepanescu presented a report highlighting the mission’s engagement in Somalia over the last six months to the European Member States in Brussels.
The report covers operational progress and planning for the future, as well as the constraints themission is facing. On the 24th of November, the six-month report was presented to the Political and Security Committee on civilian aspects of crisis management (PSC).
On the 28th Ms Stephanescu further described the mission’s activities to the European Union Committee for the Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom). The Head of Mission outlined the achievements accomplished by the Mission and the challenges it faces. She recalled the support provided to the authorities reviewing the current legal framework regulating the maritime law enforcement agencies, the work to develop a standardised training curriculum for the police including in the maritime field and the assistance to the National Security Office.
She also highlighted resource sharing and cooperation with the EU Delegation to Somalia and synergies with the sister mission EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta, which is in the spirit of the EU’s comprehensive approach, as well as synergies achieved with other partners (for example the Joint Action Plan with UNODC and setting up of a “Maritime Security – Mogadishu-Based Stakeholders’ Coordination Group”).
Analysis of progress was compared against the mission’s objectives, within the overall political and security context in Somalia.
The PSC and CivCom welcomed the new leadership of Maria-Cristina Stepanescu and took note of her Report for the period from 1 April to 30 September 2016.
Colonel Maria-Cristina Stepanescu a senior Romanian police officer and the first woman appointed EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission assumed her mandate on 1st September 2016.
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists Somalia in strengthening its capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy. https://www.eucap-nestor.eu/
