The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), chaired by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, January 25th 2009, discussed the coordination of the Union's overall response to the earthquake in Haiti as well as issues related to Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Somalia which were in the agenda for discussion. The Council agreed that Member States would provide a collective EU contribution of at least 300 police personnel as a temporary reinforcement of the police capability of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) held in Brussels on January 25th, followed up the discussion begun at the extraordinary Council convened by the High Representative on the Union's response to the earthquake in Haiti. After the earthquake struck, the Union immediately mobilised search and rescue teams and earmarked 122 M€ from the Commission and the Member States combined for urgent humanitarian assistance and a further 100 M€ for the urgent restoration of government capacity in Haiti, as well as 200 M€ for longer-term development.

At the ordinary Foreign Affairs Council, ministers focussed on the coordination of the Union's overall response to the disaster in the different fields of humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and development aid and the contribution by Member States of military and security assets as well as civil protection resources for the relief effort.

EU Humanitarian Aid in Haiti in response to UN appeal

• Engineering expertise and equipment to open routes in order to facilitate the delivery of aid
• A maritime logistical capacity able to operate without port facilities
• A collective EU contribution, numbering at least 300 police personnel, to provide a temporary reinforcement of the police capability of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). This would include contributions by EU Member States that are part of the European Gendarmerie Force. (France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and  Spain are members of the European Gendarmerie Force.)

The Council also agreed to the High Representative's proposal to set up a cell in Brussels, EUCO  Haiti, to coordinate contributions by Member States of military and security assets to meet needs  identified by the UN.

Somalia, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Yemen, Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Further to EU's actions in Haiti, the Council also agreed to set up a crisis management operation in Somalia to contribute to the training of the National Security Forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), as it was agreed on FAC November's meeting. It also discussed the prosecution of captured pirates in connection with the implementation of the mandate of the EU's counter-piracy operation, EU NAVFOR Atalanta.  This mission would take place in Uganda where Somali forces are already being trained, which would also facilitate the coordination of the EU action with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). It would be launched with the next intake of trainees, scheduled to start in spring 2010. The mission would be conducted in close coordination with our partners, including the TFG, Uganda, the African Union, the United Nations and the United States of America.

In relation to Afghanistan, Council discussed on EU's position on the situation in Afghanistan ahead of the London Conference on Afghanistan on January 28th. The EU Police Mission in Afghanistan will continue to contribute to the long-term sustainability of police reform in Afghanistan.

The EU also reaffirmed its commitment to a unified, stable, democratic and prosperous Yemen and  recalled its support to the Government of Yemen in confronting the challenges it faces,  called on the Government of Yemen to continue with its programme of domestic political and economic reforms.

Ministers reviewed the situation about Iran as regards of the nuclear question, in the light of the outcome of the New York meeting of political directors from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and the EU on January 16th and of the latest statements by Iran.

The Foreign Affairs Council also agreed to expand the work of the EU's military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina to include training of the country's security forces. The EU underlined its commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement. The Council also declared strong support for the High Representative/EUSR Valentin Inzko and called on all parties in BiH to comply with all decisions taken by him and not to seek to challenge his authority. The Council recalled the decisive progress made by Operation ALTHEA towards accomplishing its mandate and in particular the completion of the military and stabilisation tasks provided for by the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement; and underlined Operation Althea's significant contribution to the stability and security of BiH.