EU Council Conclusions on Somalia

2776th EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting


The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1 The EU believes that a window of opportunity exists for a sustainable solution to Somalia's difficulties. It considers that the current momentum should be seized by all parties in order to reach a durable political settlement that will enable Somalia to achieve lasting peace, development and prosperity.

2. The EU, however, remains concerned by the current situation of the reconciliation process and in particular the impact on it by recent events, including the vote of the Transitional Parliament under state of emergency to remove the Speaker of the Transitional Parliament. The EU urges the resumption of the full functioning of political institutions and civil society, as soon as possible.

3. The EU remains concerned about the humanitarian situation, and the difficulties faced by humanitarian organisations working in Somalia in recent years. Access for relief organizations must not be hampered. The EU urges neighbouring countries to do all they can to help in this regard. The EU will continue to provide humanitarian assistance. It urges all parties to end violence and to respect international law, including human rights and humanitarian law.

4. The Council welcomes past and ongoing efforts aiming at reducing tensions, including those of the African Union (AU), of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its chair and of the League of Arab States.

5. The EU recalls its already substantial support for the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), which are now gradually establishing their authority on the whole of Somalia. The EU calls on the TFIs to solve their internal differences and to reach out to all Somalis of good will, in a spirit of national reconciliation. It is of the utmost importance to ensure that all key stakeholders - including clan elders, Islamic leaders, representatives of the business community, civil society and women - are engaged in an inclusive political and institutional process on the basis of the Transitional Federal Charter. The EU calls for the establishment of conditions allowing the Parliament to resume political activities.

6. An inclusive broad based political process will offer the basis for further international support to stabilisation, already authorised in principle by UNSC Resolution 1725. International assistance could support the development and implementation of plans for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR). A stabilisation force would facilitate the functioning of inclusive institutions and the reconciliation process. The EU takes note of the decision of the Peace and Security Council of the AU of 19 January 2007 to authorise the deployment of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), for a period of six months, and welcomes the current efforts of the AU and member states to identify possible troop providers.

7. The EU stands ready to offer financial support for AMISOM within the framework of a concerted and global international effort stressing the importance of an all-inclusive political dialogue and genuine reconciliation as the basis for stability and the important role of the UN in facilitating longer-term stabilization in Somalia. To this end, the EU is ready to consider positively the scope to provide support through the 15 million EUR from the African Peace Facility for AMISOM as soon as the necessary requirements are met, including authorization by the UN. The EU invites the AU also to explore other possible sources of funding for the continued financing of the stabilisation force.

8. The EU, as Somalia's biggest aid donor, will continue to provide assistance for reconstruction in Somalia, and to strengthen TFIs capacity to implement the Transitional Federal Charter and engage in SSR and DDR activities on the basis of the National Security Stabilisation Plan. However, a genuine political process of reconciliation and sustainable all-inclusive institutions are essential for reconstruction efforts and the foreseen donor round table to be effective."

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