An EU Training Mission to Mali was discussed during an Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers in held in Dublin, between February 12 and 13.

The Ministers discussed the EU’s comprehensive action in the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia, whereby the EU has three ongoing Common Security and Defence Policy missions, namely counter piracy operation Atalanta, EU Training Mission Somalia and regional maritime capacity building mission EUCAP NESTOR.

In line with other interventions made during the meeting, Malta supported further EU Action in the Horn of Africa. Malta has been participating in the EU Training Mission Somalia and Operation Atalanta since inception, through mainly providing specialised officers and training experts from the Armed Forces of Malta, and these missions have produced concrete deliverables. Malta also supported forthcoming efforts in Libya and Mali.

This meeting was chaired by the Irish Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter on behalf of the EU’s High Representative Catherine Ashton. The Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous attended a session that focused on partnerships and, in particular, on the need to improve and increase practical support from regional organisations for UN peacekeeping operations.