David Stanton
Question:27 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the formation of an African peacekeeping force with funding from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14494/04]
View answerWednesday, 19 May 2004
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Written answers
I was very pleased to be able to announce approval of the arrangements for the establishment of the new African Peace Facility during the recent EU-Africa troika meeting in Dublin.
The African Peace Facility is financed through an initial contribution of €250 million from the European Development Fund and is intended to provide non-military assistance to African peace support operations as well as improve the institutional capacities of the African Union and other relevant African sub-regional organisations in the areas of peacekeeping and conflict resolution. Although the African Union does have plans to establish an African stand-by force by 2010, the African Peace Facility will only be called upon at present to provide non-military support for African-led peacekeeping operations, either mounted directly by the African Union or by sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS which have extensive experience in this area. It is envisaged that all peace support operations financed through the facility should have UN endorsement and also, as a general rule, the political approval of the African Union's Peace and Security Council.
The African Peace Facility has been established by the European Union in direct response to a request from the African Union leaders, meeting at their summit in Maputo last July. I am pleased that the EU, under the Irish Presidency, has been able to respond in such a timely fashion to this request. Through the assistance which it will provide, the African Peace Facility will directly help to save lives in Africa, through empowering African countries to mount effective peacekeeping efforts. Its establishment is also a demonstration of the EU's commitment to working with our African partners on conflict prevention and resolution and improving African peacekeeping capabilities.