(1)

On 12 December 2005, the Council adopted Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP (1) establishing a European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah).

(2)

On 28 February 2023, in the context of the coordinated Strategic Review of EU BAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS, the Political and Security Committee agreed that the two missions should be extended until 30 June 2025, in the form of two extensions for 1 year each.

(3)

On 26 June 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1303 (2), which extended EU BAM Rafah until 30 June 2024.

(4)

In its conclusions of 21-22 March 2024, the European Council stated that the European Union remains firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution and that Palestinians and Israelis have an equal right to live in safety, dignity and peace. The European Council furthermore recalled that the European Union Border Assistance Mission to the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) and the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) can play an important role based on that principle in support of a future Palestinian state. The European Council recalled those conclusions in its conclusions of 17 and 18 April 2024.

(5)

Taking into account information provided by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, EU BAM Rafah should at this stage be extended by 1 year, until 30 June 2025.

(6)

Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

EU BAM Rafah will be conducted in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union's external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,

(1)

in Article 13(1), the following subparagraph is added:

‘The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to EU BAM Rafah for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 shall be EUR 3 723 805,94.’

(2)

in Article 16, the second paragraph is replaced by the following:

‘It shall expire on 30 June 2025.’.