The Political and Security Commission (PSC), has adopted Decision Atalanta/1/2008 (2008/888/CFSP), on the appointment of an EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta).

On November, 10th, the Council adopted the Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, launching the “Atalanta” military operation.

In view of the instability of the Somali coastal area, among the objectives of this Operation are the protection of vessels of the WFP, as well as other merchant vessels, and the surveillance of the area adopting the necessary measures of protection, including the use of force to deter, prevent and intervene.

Within the operational programme, the EU Operation Commander has recommended the appointment of Commodore Antonios Papaioannou as the new EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation Atalanta.

This Decision, adopted on November, 18th, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on November, 27th, 2008.