European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah

The European Union Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) was, after the European Union Police Mission for the Gaza Strip (EU COPPS), the EU's second Civilian Crisis Management Mission in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Mission was launched on 24 November 2005, to monitor the operations at the Rafah Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, after Israel and the Palestinian Authority concluded an Agreement on Movement and Access on 15 November 2005. When the mission was deployed at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP), it did consist of roughly 70 personnel including a special security team.

On 13 June 2007, following the Hamas take over in the Gaza Strip, the EU BAM Head of Mission declared a temporary suspension of operations at the RCP. During the 19 months (end of November 2005 until June 2007) while the EU monitors were present at the terminal, a total of nearly 450,000 passengers used the crossing before that date, with an average of about 1,500 people a day. As of 2015, the European Union has a policy of no contact with Hamas.[1]

Political background

The Rafah border crossing is vitally important to the Gaza economy and the viability of any future independent Palestinian state, since it is the Gaza Strip's only border crossing with a country other than Israel. Furthermore, after the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the Gaza Strip and the subsequent closure of the RCP, trade relations with neighboring Egypt were inhibited. Given Israeli security-related concerns about handing over control of the RCP to the Palestinian Authority (possible weapons transfers and uninhibited return of exiled extremist leaders and terrorists), EU BAM Rafah's stated aim is to provide a third party presence in the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) in order to, in cooperation with the European Commission's institution building efforts, contribute to the opening of the Rafah Crossing Point and to build up confidence between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Furthermore, the broader political objective is to support the Road Map peace initiative through confidence-building and increasing Palestinian capacity in all aspects of border control. Effective border management will facilitate the movement of goods and persons in and out of the Gaza Strip, thus improving the living conditions of the Palestinians and enhancing the prospects of viability of a Palestinian State, while contributing to the security of Israel.

Organisation

The EU BAM is a civilian and unarmed Mission, composed mainly of Police, Border Police and Customs officers. It was originally intended to have the Mission in the Gaza Strip in a special-built compound at RCP, with the Mission Headquarters in Gaza City. However, due to security, the headquarters is currently based in Tel Aviv, Israel, being previously located in Ashkelon. The Mission also has a field office in Gaza city.[1]

The number of personnel has been considerably reduced. Despite the suspension of operations at the RCP in June 2007, EU BAM has maintained its capacity to redeploy to the RCP. The Mission retains its expertise in Border Management and Customs Operations and is regularly approached to share its expertise with other stakeholders involved in the issue of Border and Crossing. The mission is also liaising with the parties on a regular basis and on the operational level.

Tasks

Tasks of the EU BAM Rafah are:

  1. actively monitor, verify and evaluate the PA's performance with regard to the implementation of the Framework, Security and Customs Agreements concluded between the parties on the operation of the Rafah terminal;
  2. contribute, through mentoring, to building up the Palestinian capacity in all aspects of border management at Rafah.
  3. contribute to the liaison between the Palestinian, Israeli and Egyptian authorities in all aspects regarding the management of the Rafah Crossing Point.

The EU considers maintaining the acquis of the AMA and the EU's third party role as important and stands ready to redeploy to the crossing point should the political and security conditions allow. The RCP was opened by Egypt on 28 May 2011 and has been operating outside the scope of the AMA ever since.

Developments since 2007

On 13 June 2007, following the Hamas take over in the Gaza Strip, the EU BAM Head of Mission declared a temporary suspension of operations at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP).

In October 2014, EUBAM Rafah launched its PA (Palestinian Authority) Preparedness Project aimed at enhancing the PA capabilities for a quick redeployment to the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) and PA’s potential for future operating the RCP. The Mission is as of 2015 limited manned.The Council of the European Union has expressed the EU's readiness to reactivate the EUBAM Rafah Mission, once political and security conditions allow.[1] This was reiterated in 2015.[2] As of 2015, none of the Parties of the 2005 Agreement (the Palestinian Authority and Israel) has formally requested the EU to reactivate and redeploy EU BAM Rafah.

On 1July 2015, Mrs Natalina Cea was appointed Head of EUBAM Rafah mission by the Political and Security Committee.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 FAQs. EU BAM Rafah. Accessed September 2015
  2. ↑ Council Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process, point 4. Council of the European Union, 20 July 2015

External links

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