EU crisis response is a collective effort, enabled by the commitment of Member States who support missions like EUBAM Rafah through the deployment of highly skilled seconded staff.
On 4 June, Johan Frisell, Deputy Director-General and Head of the Security Policy Department at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, led a high-level Swedish delegation to the EUBAM Rafah headquarters. The group also included representatives from the Ministry, the Ambassador of Sweden in Tel Aviv, and other officials from the office of the Swedish Consul General in Jerusalem.
During the visit, the delegation received a comprehensive briefing from Head of Mission Mrs. Nataliya Apostolova, who emphasized the vital role of EUBAM Rafah as a third-party guarantor under the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access — a unique legal framework between Israel and Palestine.
Discussions focused on the mission’s current operations and its preparedness for a potential redeployment to the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP). The Swedish delegation reaffirmed Sweden’s long-standing support to the mission, including the provision of both short- and long-term experts.
Mrs. Apostolova also highlighted the significance of EUBAM Rafah’s operations during the first phase of the Ceasefire agreement (Feb–Mar 2025), when specialized teams from Italy, France, and Spain were deployed through the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR).
These developments reaffirm the EU’s role as a constructive stakeholder in conflict resolution efforts in Gaza, while EUBAM Rafah continues its mission to enhance the Palestinian Authority’s border management capacity through trainings —a critical step toward enabling a viable two-state solution.
