File:Case Study of European Union Antipiracy Operation Naval Force Somalia Successes, Failures and Lessons Learned for the Hellenic Navy (IA casestudyofeurop1094517461).pdf

The European Union is conducting a military operation to help deter acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia. This military operation is named European Union Naval Force Somalia/Operation ATALANTA. Its mandate is to protect vessels of the World Food Program, humanitarian aid and African Union Military Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) shipping, protect vulnerable shipping, prevent acts of piracy, and monitor fishing activities off the coast of Somalia. The operation was scheduled for an initial period of twelve months but has now been extended by the EU council until December 2012. During this period, up to 12 EU ships and a number Maritime Patrol Aircraft will operate at any one time. The Hellenic Navy was the first to be tasked with the tactical command of the operation. The purpose of this project is to investigate the rules and procedures of the European Union concerning the deployment and the contribution of its members in military operations, and more specifically in the first EU naval antipiracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. Moreover, it analyzes the first four months of deployment and indentifies the lessons learned that could be applied in future EU operations and Hellenic Navy contingency operations. This thesis is a narrative analysis of the experience and the thoughts of the writer and in no way expresses official position of the Hellenic Navy or any other official body.