Ramallah

From 8 to 13 February, EUBAM Rafah organized a study trip in Hungary for ten senior officials from the Palestinian General Administration of Borders and Crossings GABC. The objective is to provide theoretical knowledge and practical experience about the Integrated Border Management (IBM) system according to the Schengen border catalogue and international standards.

Ramallah, December 3, 2014 - The European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point, EUBAM Rafah, conducted the first high-level seminar for senior Officers from the Palestinian Authority General Administration for Borders and Crossings (GABC) to enhance their capabilities on project management.
The seminar, which was held in the West Bank city of Ramallah, took place in the context of the Mission's work with its Palestinian counterparts on maintaining their preparedness for a possible redeployment to the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP). 

 On Friday November 07, 2014 the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mrs. Federica Mogherini visited EUBAM Rafah in its Headquarters in Tel Aviv. After introducing the EUBAM Rafah staff and the support team from EUBAM Libya, the Acting Head of Mission Guy Rolin briefed the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy about the Mission and its mandate hereby discussing the Mission’s  operational plan and its activity, especially the recent launch of the PA Preparedness Project, done with the support of EUPOL COPPS”

Brussels, The Council of the European Union recently prolonged the mandate of the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah crossing point (EU BAM Rafah), starting from 1 July 2014 until 30 June 2015. 

A delegation of EUBAM Rafah including its Head of Mission, Gerhard Schlaudraff, participated on Saturday in Brussels in the celebrations of Europe Day which was organised by the European External Action Service. 

Senior members of European Union Border Assistance Mission For the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM RAFAH) and nine managers from the Palestinian General Administration of Borders and Crossings (GABC) concluded a study trip to Romania to view facilities and procedures for managing borders and crossings.  

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.