Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs conclude visit to Mozambique
A delegation from the European Parliament’s Security and Defence sub-committee paid a three-day visit to Mozambique in September to assess the work of the European Union’s military training mission - EU Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM) - and to reinforce the importance of EU - Mozambique cooperation on security and defence, particularly with regards to stabilising the northern region and tackling terrorist threats.
The delegation led by Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) chair Nathalie Loiseau, included other six members of the European Parliament from France, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Germany and Estonia. In Mozambique´s capital Maputo, the delegation held meetings with the President of the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, civil society representatives as well as observing a live-fire exercise of the EUTM supported Mozambican Special Forces - Quick Reaction Force, in Chimoio, central Mozambique.
At the end of the three-day visit, Nathalie Loiseau sspoke to the press, stating that “The EU-Mozambique partnership is important in achieving regional stability and economic development. This is particularly important in the context of the geopolitical consequences, including food and energy shortages, of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. We were pleased to see the EU Training Mission (EUTM), while one of the newest CSDP Missions, has the potential to become a leading example of a new generation of EUTMs where advice and training assistance is backed-up with additional capabilities under the European Peace Facility and embedded in an integrated EU approach alongside significant economic and humanitarian aid. For this approach to be sustainable, it is essential that the Mozambican government pursue its own integrated approach. This means working with partners to provide essential social, health, educational and economic support to all citizens, including those returning to Cabo Delgado, so Mozambique can become resilient to threats from jihadi terrorist groups or opportunistic actors like Russia’s Wagner Group.”
The EU has expressed commitment to supporting the stability, security and economic development of Mozambique. Through the EU Training Mission, this commitment covers the action with EU Member States partners in stabilizing the Cabo Delgado province and removing the terrorist threats. For this security assistance to be sustainable, the partnership addresses other challenges and priorities, namely, economic development, health and education for all citizens as well as climate change and the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine on global food and energy, affecting both Europe and Africa.
To note that under the European Peace Facility, the EU recently agreed to support Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to Mozambique (SAMIM) with EUR 15 million, providing the military component of SAMIM with field fortifications and storage containers, medical equipment, vehicles and boats, as well as technological devices.
By providing this support, the EU joins Mozambican and international efforts to restore peace, safety and security in the north of Mozambique, protect the civilian population, and allow for the return of internally displaced persons, accountable law enforcement, state structures and services to the area.
This SEDE visit comes shortly after the visit to Mozambique by the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who on 9 September delivered in Maputo the first tranche of non-lethal military equipment for Mozambican troops trained by the EU to fight in Cabo Delgado.
