European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories
Encyclopedia
The European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (official title EU Police Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support, abbreviated to EUPOL COPPS) is a "three-year mission to reform and rebuild the police force in the West Bank
and Gaza
", which started on 1 January 2006, under the European Union
's Common Security and Defence Policy. It is one of two civilian missions the EU runs in the Palestinian Territories, the other being the European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah
(EU BAM Rafah).
EUPOL COPPS has its headquarters in Ramallah
, and its objective is to support the Palestinian Authority in establishing sustainable and effective policing arrangements. By attempting to improve Palestinian civil police and law enforcement capacity, EUPOL COPPS represents the efforts of the EU and the wider international community to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order.
. The initiative followed the expression by EU leaders in June 2004 of their readiness to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.
, through the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process
, Marc Otte.
EUPOL COPPS is a civilian mission in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy and the EU's Political and Security Committee exercises, under the responsibility of the EU Council, the political control and strategic direction of the Mission.
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and Gaza
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
", which started on 1 January 2006, under the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's Common Security and Defence Policy. It is one of two civilian missions the EU runs in the Palestinian Territories, the other being the European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah
European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah
The European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah is, after the European Union Police Mission for the Gaza Strip , the EU's second Civilian Crisis Management Mission in the Gaza Strip. It is situated at the Rafah Border Crossing on the Palestinian-Egyptian border...
(EU BAM Rafah).
EUPOL COPPS has its headquarters in Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
, and its objective is to support the Palestinian Authority in establishing sustainable and effective policing arrangements. By attempting to improve Palestinian civil police and law enforcement capacity, EUPOL COPPS represents the efforts of the EU and the wider international community to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order.
Establishment
EUPOL COPPS was established following an EU Council decision in November 2005, and builds on the work of the EU Co-ordination Office for Palestinian Police Support (EU COPPS), which was established in January 2005 within the office of the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Ambassador Marc OtteMarc Otte
Marc Otte is the European Union's Special Representative to the Middle East peace process.-Biography:Otte holds an MA in Political and Social Sciences, from the University of Leuven, 1969, and did post-graduate work at the university's Institute for Developing Countries...
. The initiative followed the expression by EU leaders in June 2004 of their readiness to support the Palestinian Authority in taking responsibility for law and order, and in particular, in improving its civil police and law enforcement capacity.
Organisational structure
EUPOL COPPS is composed of 32 unarmed members of staff, 27 of whom are European and 5 local. Most of the staff are secondees from EU member states. The current Head of Mission is Chief Constable Paul Robert Kernaghan, CBE, QPM, who succeeded Colin Smith on 1 January 2009. The first Head of Mission, Assistant Chief Constable was Jonathan McIvor. The Head of Mission receives guidance from EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier SolanaJavier Solana
Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga, KOGF is a Spanish physicist and Socialist politician. After serving in the Spanish government under Felipe González and Secretary General of NATO , he was appointed the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary...
, through the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process
Peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict has taken shape over the years, despite the ongoing violence in the Middle East and an "all or nothing" attitude about a lasting peace, "which prevailed for most of the twentieth century"...
, Marc Otte.
EUPOL COPPS is a civilian mission in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy and the EU's Political and Security Committee exercises, under the responsibility of the EU Council, the political control and strategic direction of the Mission.
External links
- EUPOL COPPS at the Council of the European UnionCouncil of the European UnionThe Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
website