(1)

Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 (1) establishes the European Peace Facility (EPF) for the financing by Member States of Union actions under the common foreign and security policy to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security pursuant to Article 21(2), point (c), of the Treaty. In particular, pursuant to Article 1(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509, the EPF is to be used for the financing of assistance measures such as actions to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters.

(2)

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, the Union and its Member States reiterated their support for the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region and renewed their commitment to enhancing maritime security in the area.

(3)

On 4 May 2022, the Council approved the concept of a possible assistance measure benefiting the GoG coastal states, with the overarching objective of supporting African-led maritime security and anti-piracy activities conducted by military actors in the GoG to ultimately reduce the incidence, duration and intensity of violence and criminality, and to protect navy vessels and coastal populations, and their livelihoods.

(4)

As part of that concept, the Council approved a preparatory measure that would serve as a basis for a future proposal by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) in respect of an assistance measure to enhance maritime security in the GoG. The preparatory measure was conducted between September and December 2022 with the twofold objective of, first, identifying and developing technical specifications for an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) system and of providing objective and transparent criteria to enable the choice for its location, and, second, of assessing the navies of the GoG coastal states in order to identify among them the most technically and politically suitable to achieve the objectives of the assistance measure. The results of the preparatory measure identified a manned aerial vehicle as the optimal solution for an ISR system, while Cameroon, Ghana, Congo and Benin were identified as the most appropriate GoG coastal states with sufficient marine, regulatory and political capacity to be able to participate in the assistance measure.

(5)

During January and June 2023, a series of scoping and outreach events, including missions on the ground, were carried out in order to further streamline and refine the findings of the preparatory measure, as well as to ensure full coordination and collaboration with the pre-identified GoG coastal states and with the regional organisations that are part of the Yaoundé Architecture, notably the Regional Center For Maritime Security in Central Africa (CRESMAC), the Regional Center for Maritime Security in West Africa (CRESMAO), the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) and the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCCs) of Douala, Accra and Pointe Noire. As a result of that outreach and on the basis of expressed readiness by the pre-identified GoG coastal states, Cameroon and Ghana were chosen as beneficiaries of the assistance measure.

(6)

Given the complexity of the assistance measure and in order to limit any potential political or technical risk, the assistance for the GoG coastal states on maritime security will follow a gradual approach. On the basis of the six-monthly assessment of the assistance measure, a decision can be made to continue and expand the support to other GoG coastal states, possibly in 2024.

(7)

On 16 June 2023, the High Representative received a request from Ghana for the Union to assist the Navy of Ghana with the procurement of key equipment to strengthen its operational capabilities as regards patrolling the high seas.

(8)

On 19 September 2023, the High Representative received a request from Cameroon for the Union to assist the Navy of Cameroon with the procurement of key equipment to strengthen its operational capabilities as regards patrolling the high seas, as well as to assist the Yaoundé Architecture with the provision of ISR services via a manned aerial asset, in order to enhance the operational capacities of the Yaoundé Architecture’s member states in their surveillance of the GoG, with the ultimate aim of improving maritime security in the region.

(9)

Assistance measures are to be implemented taking into account the principles and requirements set out in Decision (CFSP) 2021/509, in particular compliance with Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (2), and in accordance with the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF.

(10)

The Council reaffirms its determination to protect, promote and fulfil human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic principles and to strengthen the rule of law and good governance, in compliance with the United Nations Charter, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law,