EU will also take into consideration the humanitarian cost of piracy
On January 1, the European Union assumed the one year chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) with Maciej Popowski, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) as EU chairperson. The EU is strongly committed to bringing the number of ships and seafarers captured by Somali pirates down to zero.As High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President Catherine Ashton stated: “Pirate attacks over the past year have dropped by 95%, but the fight against piracy is not yet won. It is vital that the international community continues to work together to stamp out piracy and consolidate the gains we have already made”.
The CGPCS was established in January 2009 with a view to facilitating the coordination of actions among more than 60 states and organizations to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia. The CGPCS has also increased coordination and information sharing among states, private sector (e.g. shipping industry, insurance companies) and non-governmental organizations. Following the establishment of the Contact Group, the number of hostages captured by Somali pirates has gone down from more than 700 in 2011 to around 50 today.
While being in charge of the one year the chairmanship of the CGPCS, the EU also plans to take into consideration the humanitarian cost of piracy, since hostages are often very affected by this traumatic experience.
Source: New Europe
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