On 29 May EUPOL COPPS, EUBAM Rafah and the Office of the EU Representative in Jerusalem jointly organised a visit to Jericho for European Union Heads of Missions to present the Mission’s activities and to meet main Palestinian counterparts.

Major Gen Yousif Al Helo, Chief of Palestinian Civilian Police (PCP), and Governor Nazmi Mhanna, General Director of the Palestinian Authority’s General Administration for Borders and Crossings (GABC), had an exchange with the Heads of Missions on the challenges of the Palestinian administration under the current critical situation and the way forward.

Both Major Gen Al Helo and Governor Mhanna expressed appreciation for the continuous EU support manifested through the two Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions on the ground, especially at this critical point in time. EU Representative Alexandre Stutzmann stressed the importance of rule of law, justice, police, law enforcement, human rights and governance and the importance of building on what has already been reached in those areas of Palestinian-EU partnership. He reiterated the commitment of the EU towards strengthening the capacity of GABC to play important role at border crossings, especially at the Rafah Crossing Point with the support of EUBAM Rafah.

During the visit to the Palestinian College for Police Science, EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission Karin Limdal said that the Mission is ready to support the PCP also in future engagements, under the Palestinian ownership and in coordination with the Mission’s international partners. EUBAM Rafah Head of Mission Nataliya Apostovola stated that the Mission is ready to re-engage operationally at the Rafah Border Crossing together with the PA as soon as pre-conditions are met. The EU Heads of Missions visited the GABC premises and the Al-Karamah crossing. They also visited the GABC premises, the training center, equipped with EUBAM support and the operational room at Al-Karamah terminal.