Ramallah

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.
 

On Saturday, 12th of May, EUBAM Rafah sent a team to the Belgian capital to take part in the "EU Open Day". Each of the 6,000 visitors who attended the event in the atrium of the Council of the European Union in Brussels had the opportunity to learn more about the EU and its work around the world.
All the EU CSDP (EU Common Security and Defense Policy) missions were present throughout the day. EUBAM Rafah displayed items, brochures, videos and messages to visitors, illustrating the work of the mission.

A delegation of EUBAM Rafah participated on May 9, in the celebrations of Europe Day organized by the Office of the European Union Representative which took place at the First Ramallah Group in Ramallah.
The EUBAM Rafah delegation stood in a joint booth with the other EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Mission in the area, EUPOL COPPS, which was visited by Palestinian Prime Minister, Dr. Salam FAYYAD, and the EU Representative, Mr. John Gatt-Rutter, who were greeted by the Head of EUPOL COPPS’ Police Advisory section, Mr. Michael Haliti.
 

On 19 December 2011, the Council of the EU has adopted a decision extending the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point between Egypt and Gaza, until 30 June 2012, on the basis of its current mandate. The EU has consistently insisted on the need for a full implementation of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. As third party mission, EUBAM Rafah is still present in order to maintain an operational capability in the region and because it is invited by the parties of the 2005 Agreements (Israel and the Palestinian Authority).