Iraq: EU Advisory Mission extended and budget agreed
On 15 October 2018, the Council extended the mandate of the EU Advisory Mission EUAM Iraq until 17 April 2020 and agreed on a budget of € 64.8 million for the period from 18 October 2018 to 17 April 2020.
The Council also updated the mandate of the mission to reflect lessons learnt during the first year of the mission and following its strategic review. The mission will now pursue three strategic objectives:
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-provide advice and expertise to the Iraqi authorities at strategic level to identify and define the requirements for the coherent implementation of the security sector reform civilian related aspects of the Iraqi National Security Programme and associated plans,
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-identify opportunities at national, regional and provincial levels for further EU engagement in support of the needs of the civilian security sector reform,
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-assist the EU Delegation in the coordination of EU's and member states’ support in the field of security sector reform, ensuring coherence of EU action.
The mission contributes to the implementation at strategic level of a comprehensive strategy countering terrorism and organised crime with specific reference to border management, financial crime, money laundering and the trafficking of cultural heritage. The mission works in coordination with key international actors operating in Iraq, including the NATO mission in Iraq.
The EUAM Iraq was launched on 16 October 2017 to support the implementation of the civilian aspects of the Iraqi National Security Programme. This programme aims at building state institutions capable of consolidating security, peace and preventing conflicts under the rule of law, and outlines a number of threats to national security, including terrorism, corruption and political instability.
The mission is based in Bagdad. The Head of mission is Markus Ritter (Germany), currently leading 52 staff.