Feb
27
EU strengthens its anti-piracy mission off the coast of the Indian
Defense European leaders began a two-day reunioninformal in the Spanish city of Palma tourist deMallorca, along the Mediterranean, in the absence of laAlta EU Representative for Foreign Policy and deSeguridad, Catherine Ashton, caused unease in some countries yaque was the first such meeting since his appointment, according to diplomatic sources said.
The Spanish Presidency of the EU excused her absence viajeque to Moscow today for talks with rusasy authorities in attendance Thursday at the inauguration of nuevopresidente Ukraine, Victor Yanukovich.
The British Ashton replaced in late November at the Spanish cargoal Javier Solana.
Ministers endorsed comandantede strengthen the functions of the mission against piracy, Peter Hudson, who will control the ports poderespara from those known lasembarcaciones departing from the pirates and their mother craft to intercept, announced the Spanish Minister of Defensa, Carme Chacon delencuentro host.
They have also supported the launch of a mission deadiestramiento strength of the Somali security forces, which take place in Uganda about 200 European trainers, led by Spain .
It is hoped that they may form elobjetivo thousand Somali troops lay the foundations of security structures in African esepais departing pirate groups.
Another measure has been supported expanding the acuerdosexistentes with third countries in the region to judge the pirates seized suterritorio.
The new countries with such agreements to be negotiated sonTanzania, South Africa and Mauritius. Already exist with Kenya and IslasSeychelles.
The mission Atalanta was launched by the EU at the end de2008 to avoid pirate attacks and kidnappings against buquesmercantiles and fisheries, which have proximasa routes that pass through the coast of Somalia.
The ministers also agreed today to set up and non-executive lamision the EU in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which supondrauna transition from the current operation Althea deasesoramiento another single Defense Ministry deadiestramiento this country and its armed forces, said the minister.
For the second day of the meeting, officials have left deDefensa debate on the need to equip the EU ofa rapid response force to crises triggered oemergencias as in Haiti for earthquake deenero.
The Spanish minister stressed that one of the lessons sacardel earthquake is that “we can and must improve our ability parareaccionar together and coordinate rapidamentefrente to crises, natural disasters emergency osituaciones” he said.
To this end, Spain which exercises this semester deturno Presidency of the EU “will explore the possibility that the current” battle groups “(groups fighting tactics) could serinstrumentos for this rapid response and joint, coordinated EU response to situations of emergency .
Tomorrow is also expected to materialize the agreement today by Chacon principiosanunciado to save the project militarde European transport aircraft A400M.
According Spanish minister, the seven countries involved in the project and the European aircraft manufacturer EADS unprincipio have reached agreement to carry forward the additional cost for programaamenazado.
Technical details will be concretized in the meeting estejueves held that the ministers of defense of the seven paiseseuropeos involved in the project: Germany, France, Spain, inthe United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg in Palma de Mallorca.
negotiated in EADS recent weeks with the governments of estospaises the reorganization of the program to the additional development of this suponeel military transport plane ALTATECNOLOGÃA. EFE
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