BELGIUM: EU pledges $132 million to help Kenya fight piracy.

Record ID: 362193

  • Title: BELGIUM: EU pledges $132 million to help Kenya fight piracy.
  • Date: 9th March 2012
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF EU COMMISSION BUILDING EU FLAG
  • Embargoed: 24th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium, Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Crime,European Union,Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA7X0TZGVDQVQYE7IXAHU3X79SR
  • Story Text: The European Union has agreed to increase its funding for forces of the African Union in Somalia by 100 million Euros (132 million US dollars) until 2013 and strengthen its military presence in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean until 2014 to help with threats from terror and piracy groups.
    Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga is on a visit to the EU institutions this week. He met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday (March 8) and discussed the situation in Somalia and the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia.
    "We are also looking at ways to strengthen our cooperation in Kenya on counterpiracy. In fact, we are in the process of deploying a civilian mission to strengthen maritime capacities in the Horn of Africa, west of the Indian Ocean region, and we see Kenya as a very important partner in this venture and I really thank the Prime Minister for his commitment. We had very good discussions on these issues. I have conveyed to Prime Minister Odinga that it is only by joining our efforts that we can contribute to greater security in Somalia and to restore peace and stability in the region", said Barroso.
    Last week the EU decided to extend the EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA for two years until December 2014. The EU also tries to get transfer agreements with countries in the region to ensure that suspected pirates are brought to justice.
    Odinga said the end of Somalia's troubles was nearby and urged the EU to stay committed to its efforts to stabilise the situation.
    "We would like to see a free Somalia. As you will have noted, life has come back to normal in Mogadishu. People for the first time are going around their business as usual in Mogadishu. We appreciate very much the EU's decision to scale up aid, and we would like to see more support to local communities to combat illegal economic activities, and build up public service capacity."
    Odinga also said that the polls on the upcoming elections would be free, fair and transparent, adding that the country had learnt from past mistakes.
    "Right now the preparations are under way to ensure that these elections will be truly free and fair. The freedom of information has also been guaranteed under this new constitution," Osdinga said.
    The Kenyan elections will take place this year or ealy next year. The EU supports the preparations of the elections and says to follow the progress and has offered to dispatch and Electoral Observation Mission.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register