23.06.2011 EU Civilian Operations Commander visits EUBAM Rafah

Mr. Hansjoerg HABER, the EU Civilian Operations Commander and Director of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), visited EUBAM Rafah headquarters and met with
Colonel Alain Faugeras, Head of the EUBAM Rafah, and with the Mission members on 23 June 2011 in Ashkelon. Mr. Haber praised EUBAM for its continuing presence and its
readiness to be reactivated, once the political and security conditions allow, in order to ensure the EU third party role at the Rafah crossing point, as set out in the 2005
Agreement on Movement and Access. During his presence, Mr HABER visited the Kerem Shalom Crossing, which is the main transit hub for goods from Israel into the Gaza Strip.
During his four-day visit in the region, Mr. Haber also visited EUPOL COPPS headquarters in Ramallah and had meetings with various official representatives from Israel and the
Palestinian Authority. The CPCC Director, as EU Civilian Operations Commander, exercises command and control at strategic level and is in charge of the planning and conduct of
all the eight Civilian Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) Missions, under the political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the
overall authority of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.