European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed on July 27 to send an assessment team to Somalia in preparation for a plan to train Somali security forces to fight piracy and terrorism.
"At the very beginning of next month, a formal mission of the EU will be there and we will clarify and get an agreement on how to operate," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters after a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels Monday, adding the 27-nation bloc would look at "the idea of training security forces."
In a conclusion following the meeting, EU foreign ministers decided to "step up the EU engagement for promoting peace and development in Somalia."
The ministers said they "will explore the possibility of additional EU support to the security sector," including through the training of security forces.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said EU member states have agreed "in principle" to help train Somali security forces.
"France made the proposal and the EU accepted in principle to participate in police and army training," he said.
