EU extends advisory mission to Iraq until 2020
In a statement, the Council explained it had updated the mandate of the mission to reflect “lessons learned” during its first year and following its strategic review.
The mission is now pursuing three strategic objectives, the Council stated.
“Provide advice and expertise to the Iraqi authorities at a 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.”
“Identify opportunities at national, regional and provincial levels for further EU engagement in support of the needs of the civilian security sector reform,” the statement added.
The mission will also assist the EU delegation in the coordination of EU and member states’ support in the field of security sector reform, “ensuring the coherence of EU action.”
It also noted that the EUAM would continue to “contribute to the implementation at the strategic level of a comprehensive strategy countering terrorism and organized crime” with specific reference to border management, financial crime, money laundering and the trafficking of cultural heritage.
The mission works in coordination with key international actors operating in Iraq, including the NATO mission in the country.
EUAM Iraq was launched on 16 October 2017 to support the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Iraqi National Security Programme.
The program aims at building state institutions capable of consolidating security, peace and preventing conflicts under the rule of law, and outlines a number of threats to national security, including terrorism, corruption, and political instability.
The mission is based in Bagdad with Markus Ritter (Germany) as the head of mission leading 52 staff members.
Editing by Nadia Riva
