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As the first training of its kind and part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the Palestinian Authority in enhancing border security, the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) concluded a new joint initiative with the National Customs Agency of Bulgaria to provide specialised training in narcotics detection to the personnel of the Palestinian General Authority for Borders and Crossings (GABC).

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.

Jericho, Palestine – In a moment of pride and accomplishment, 22-year-old Tabark Frijat has successfully completed the Document Security Course – Basic Level, joining 15 other participants in an intensive training program. The course, held from April 20 to 23, 2025, at the General Authority of Borders and Crossings (GABC) in Jericho, aimed to enhance participants' skills in detecting fraudulent travel and identity documents.

In the margin of her visit to the Middle East, EU High representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice- president of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, met with EUBAM Rafah Head of mission Nataliya Apostolova and her team. She was briefed on the recent operation EUBAM and its Specialized Teams were performing at the Rafah crossing point, while meeting the  Spanish, French and Italian gendarmerie forces, deployed there.

In a joint endeavor, EUBAM RAFAH and EUPOL COOPS’ Heads of missions reiterated the importance of CSDP engagement in the region.

On 11 March 2025, the Head of Mission of EUBAM Rafah, Nataliya Apostolova, accompanied a senior European delegation led by EU Representative to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Ambassador Alexandre Stutzmann, together with their Excellencies the Consuls General Nicolas Kassianides (France), Javier Gutiérrez (Spain), and Domenico Bellato (Italy), on a visit to the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP).

HoM Nataliya Apostolova was proud to brief European Parliament President Roberta Metsola during her recent visit to the region on EUBAM Rafah’s role in support of  the Gaza-Israel cease fire agreement at the  Rafah Crossing Point.

Following an Israeli and Palestinian request, and with the agreement of Egypt, the EU has reactivated its presence at the Rafah Crossing Point (RCP) in Gaza, in line with the Agreement of Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles of 2005.

On 31 January, EUBAM Rafah, the EU civilian border assistance mission, deployed a specialised team to the Rafah Crossing Point to allow the parties to reopen the RCP.

Last week, EUBAM Rafah hosted the first visit of the newly created Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) of the European Parliament. Six MEPs, led by Committee Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, visited Israel and Palestine from 5 to 8 February 2025. 

EUBAM Rafah welcomes the arrival of new Head of Mission Nataliya Apostolova.

Nataliya Apostolova is an experienced Bulgarian diplomat who has served over 25 years both in her national diplomatic administration and in the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Just before joining EUBAM Rafah, she concluded her three-year tenure as Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS, the other EU CSDP Mission based and operational in the Palestinian Territories.

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