• Council of the EU
• Press release
• 30 September 2026 20:15

Rafah crossing point: Council appoints new head of EU border assistance mission

On 29 September 2026, the Council appointed Col. Vittorio Stingo as the new Head of the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah). He will take up his duties on 1 November 2026 for an initial mandate of eight months, until 30 June 2027. He succeeds Ms. Nataliya Apostolova, who has headed the mission since 2023.

As Head of EUBAM Rafah, Col. Stingo will lead the EU’s civilian, non-executive mission at the Rafah Crossing Point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. EUBAM Rafah provides a neutral third-party presence at the crossing, monitors and supports the work of Palestinian border personnel, and provides technical advice and assistance on border management. The Head of Mission is responsible for the overall direction and management of the Mission, including the implementation of its mandate, coordination with relevant parties and the effective delivery of its operational and capacity-building activities. EUBAM Rafah does not have an executive mandate: responsibility for the operation of the crossing remains with the Palestinian border authorities.

Col. Stingo is an Italian Carabinieri officer with extensive experience in international operations, security cooperation and border and law enforcement matters. He has held senior General Staff and command positions within the Carabinieri and, since September 2023, has served as Chief of Staff of the Mobile Units Division in Rome, responsible for public order and security operations across Italy.

Background

Launched in November 2005, EUBAM Rafah is a civilian, non-executive mission which advises and provides technical assistance to the Palestinian border personnel at the Rafah Crossing Point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Its role is to provide a third-party presence at the crossing point and build confidence between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. After being placed on hold in 2007 following the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the mission has redeployed in January 2025 and again in February 2026, enabling the opening of the Rafah Crossing Point for more than 13 thousand people up to now.

On 28 September 2026, the Council has renewed the Mission’s mandate until 30 June 2027.