EUHR Solana welcomes appointment of Head of EU Police Mission for Palestinian Territories

Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, welcomes the appointment by the EU Political and Security Committee today of Jonathan McIvor as Head of the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories, code-named EUPOL COPPS.

Jonathan McIvor has significant police experience, notably in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East. He currently leads the EU Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support, within the Office of EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Marc Otte, and acts as his police adviser.

EUPOL COPPS was established by a decision of the EU Council on 14 November. Its operational phase is set to start on 1 January 2006. Until that date, Mr McIvor will act as head of the mission's planning team. The mission, which will have a long term reform focus, will provide enhanced support to the Palestinian Authority in establishing sustainable and effective policing arrangements.

Together with the envisaged EU border control monitoring mission in Rafah, EUPOL COPPS will mark a significant increase in the EU's involvement in the Middle East in the field of security.

Background:

The mission, which will have a three-year mandate, will assist in the implementation of the Palestinian Civil Police Development Plan, advise and mentor senior members of the Palestinian Civil Police and criminal justice system and co-ordinate EU and, where requested, international assistance to the Palestinian Civil Police. The mission will act in close co-operation with the European Community's institution building programmes as well as other international efforts in the security sector and judicial reform.

It will build on the work of the EU Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EU COPPS) established in April 2005 within the office of the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process.
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This statement is attributable to Cristina Gallach, Spokesperson of HR Solana

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• EU HR Solana welcomes appointment of Head of EU Police Mission for Palestinian Territories (3/1/2007)
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• EU Council establishes Police Mission in Palestinian Territories (14/11/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions - International Peace and Security (7/11/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions - Middle East Peace Process (7/11/2005)
• EUHR Solana announces the establishment of the EU Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (20/4/2005)