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.
EUBAM Rafah was established in November 2005 to monitor the Rafah border crossing point, as set out in the Agreement on Movement and Access between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Rafah crossing point was last opened with the presence of EUBAM Rafah on 9 June 2007.
The EU stands ready to reactivate EUBAM Rafah, once political and security conditions allow, in order to ensure the EU third party role at the Rafah crossing point. While the mission remains ready to redeploy, it has ensured cost savings by sharing assets and administrative staff with the EU police mission in the Palestinian territories.
