Commander of EU's anti-piracy mission to face questions from Lords EU committee
On Thursday 8 February 2018 the House of Lords EU External Affairs Sub-Committee will be taking evidence from Major General Charlie Stickland, Operation Commander of Operation Atalanta, the EU's anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia.
This public evidence session starts at 10.05am and is part of the Committee's 'Brexit: Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions' inquiry.
The questions the Committee is likely to ask Major General Charlie Stickland include:
- What are the main reasons for Operation Atalanta's success?
- How important to the mission is the UK's provision of the operational headquarters and the Operation Commander?
- What contribution does Operation Atalanta make to the UK's security objectives in the Horn of Africa?
- Could Operation Atalanta's objectives be achieved outside the EU? What are the advantages and disadvantages of it being an EU mission?
- How effective is the co-operation between Operation Atalanta and the EU missions in Somalia (EUTM and EUCAP Somalia)?
- Sir Alan Duncan, Minister for Europe and the Americas, told the Committee in December 2016 that “The future of Operation Atalanta post 2018 … remains uncertain, with force generation a particular problem over the period of the next mandate.” Is this still the case?
- Which non-EU countries have contributed to Operation Atalanta? Which contribution has been the most significant?
- What are the major challenges to co-operation between Operation Atalanta and non-EU countries?
This public evidence session will begin at 10.05am on Thursday 8 February 2018 in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.
