Council of the European Union
ESDP - European Security and Defence Policy
EU NAVFOR Somalia

Hand-over of EU Force Commander

6 April 2009

Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), congratulates Commander Juan GARAT on taking office as the new EU Force Commander of Operation EU NAVFOR Somalia/Operation ATALANTA: The change of command ceremony took place on board the Spanish frigate Numancia on 6 April in Djibouti.

"I would like to congratulate Commander Juan GARAT on taking up his duties as EU Force Commander of Operation EU !AVFOR Somalia / Operation ATALANTA, the EU's anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. With the long and extensive experience he has acquired in the Spanish navy, including positions of responsibility in international theatres, Commander GARAT is ideally suited to take on his new duties in command of Operation EU !AVFOR ATALANTA. He may be assured of my full support and that of the European Union in carrying out his new mission.

I also would like to extend my warmest thanks to Commodore Antonios PAPAIOANNOU for his excellent work during his term as the first EU Force Commander of this, the first naval operation ever conducted under the European Security and Defence Policy. Operation EU NAVFOR has made a significant contribution over the past four months to the efforts to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and I know that it will continue to play an effective role under the new command."

Background
On 11 November 2008, the Council of the EU adopted a Joint Action on an EU military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (EU NAVFOR Somalia / operation "Atalanta"). This operation contributes to: (a) the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, in accordance with the mandate laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1814 (2008); (b) the protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast, and the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, in accordance with the mandate laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1816 (2008).

EU NAVFOR Somalia is an EU autonomous operation conducted under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). It is the first naval operation launched by the EU. Rear Admiral Philip JONES (UK) is EU Operation Commander. The EU Operational Headquarters is located at Northwood (UK).

CONSILIUM - EU NAVFOR Somalia