EU extends mission in Iraq until 2020 with focus on security
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The European Union extended its advisory mission to Iraq until 2020 and will focus on security sector reform, more support for civilian security, and better coordination with member states' support in the security sector.
"On 15 October 2018, the Council extended the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission EUAM Iraq until 17 April 2020 and agreed on a budget of € 64.8 million for the period from 18 October 2018 to 17 April 2020," stated the Council of the European Union on Tuesday.
The changes allow the EU Advisory Mission to Iraq "to reflect on lessons" learnt during its first year of mission.
They will concentrate on three objectives.
The EU will "provide advice and expertise to the Iraqi authorities at strategic level to identify and define the requirements for the coherent implementation of the security sector reform civilian related aspects of the Iraqi National Security Programme and associated plans."
Iraq's prime minister is the commander of all security forces in the country, although a tangled web of army, paramilitary, militia, federal police, counter-terrorism, rapid response, provincial police, and local police often complicate chain of command.
The EU plans to "identify opportunities at national, regional and provincial levels for further EU engagement in support of the needs of the civilian security sector reform."
They will continue to coordinate with key international actors in the country, including the NATO mission.
The EU is a member of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and its member states have made various contributions to that end.
It will "assist the EU Delegation in the coordination of EU's and member states’ support in the field of security sector reform, ensuring coherence of EU action."
The EU mission is based in Baghdad and led by Markus Ritter of Germany. It also coordinates with the EU liaison office in Erbil, headed by Clarisse Pasztory.
"On 15 October 2018, the Council extended the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission EUAM Iraq until 17 April 2020 and agreed on a budget of € 64.8 million for the period from 18 October 2018 to 17 April 2020," stated the Council of the European Union on Tuesday.
The changes allow the EU Advisory Mission to Iraq "to reflect on lessons" learnt during its first year of mission.
They will concentrate on three objectives.
The EU will "provide advice and expertise to the Iraqi authorities at strategic level to identify and define the requirements for the coherent implementation of the security sector reform civilian related aspects of the Iraqi National Security Programme and associated plans."
Iraq's prime minister is the commander of all security forces in the country, although a tangled web of army, paramilitary, militia, federal police, counter-terrorism, rapid response, provincial police, and local police often complicate chain of command.
The EU plans to "identify opportunities at national, regional and provincial levels for further EU engagement in support of the needs of the civilian security sector reform."
They will continue to coordinate with key international actors in the country, including the NATO mission.
The EU is a member of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and its member states have made various contributions to that end.
It will "assist the EU Delegation in the coordination of EU's and member states’ support in the field of security sector reform, ensuring coherence of EU action."
The EU mission is based in Baghdad and led by Markus Ritter of Germany. It also coordinates with the EU liaison office in Erbil, headed by Clarisse Pasztory.