News

The Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Mr. Maciej Popowski, visited the two Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Missions, EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS, during a two-day trip to the region. Mr. Popowski met respectively with EUBAM Rafah’ Head of Mission, Gerhard Schlaudraff and the staff of the Mission as well as with EUPOL COPPS’ representatives.

In a special event organized by Pal-Think for Strategic Studies, the Head of Mission for EUBAM Rafah, Mr. Gerhard Schlaudraff stated that “it is possible for EUBAM to return to the Rafah Crossing, in full function, once an agreement is approached by all stakeholders”. In the meantime, he also assured that this return will not happen without the approval from Israel and the Palestinian Authority. 

Ramallah - The EU Civilian Operations Commander Hansjörg Haber paid a two-day visit to occupied Palestinian territories where he visited EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS and met a number of Palestinian officials including the Palestinian Prime Minister, his deputy and minister of Justice, as well as representatives of the international community.

Gerhard Schlaudraff was appointed on 9 July 2013 Head of Mission for the EU Border assistance mission for the Rafah crossing point (EUBAM Rafah). The decision was taken by the EU Political and Security Committee. He succeeds Colonel Francesco Bruzzese del Pozzo, who had been Head of Mission since 1 October 2012.

Gerhard Schlaudraff was appointed on 9 July 2013 Head of Mission for the EU Border assistance mission for the Rafah crossing point (EUBAM Rafah). The decision was taken by the EU Political and Security Committee. He succeeds Colonel Francesco Bruzzese del Pozzo, who had been Head of Mission since 1 October 2012.

The Council of the European Union decided on 3 July 2013 to extend the mandate of EU BAM Rafah (The European Union Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point) for a further 12 months, starting from 1 July 2013 until 30 June 2014 on the basis of its current mandate.

Delegates from European Union member states who make up the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) have been visiting Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to see how the EUBAM Rafah mission is working and to meet its staff. A meeting took place on 9 November in the Headquarters of EUBAM Rafah in Tel Aviv.
 

Colonel Francesco Bruzzese del Pozzo was today appointed Head of Mission for the EU Border assistance mission for the Rafah crossing point (EUBAM Rafah). The decision was taken by the EU Political and Security Committee. Mr Bruzzese del Pozzo, from Italy, will take up his duties on 1 October 2012, with his mandate running until 30 June 2013. He will succeed Captain Davide Palmigiani, who had been interim Head of Mission since 1 July 2012. 

A delegation from the subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) of the European Parliament (EP) met with EUPOL COPPS and EU BAM Rafah representatives in Ramallah.
EU BAM Rafah’s newly appointed Head of Mission, together with EUPOL COPPS’ Head of Mission, Kenneth DEANE, briefed this delegation on the missions’ mandates, daily activities, challenges and future, and also on the broader European Union’s support to the Palestinian Security Sector and Justice Sector Reform.