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Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
EU Member states have committed themselves to a Common Foreign Security Policy for the European Union.
The EU and the League of Arab States (LAS) held a Ministerial meeting in Brussels to prepare the first ever EU-LAS Summit, discussing ideas for deeper cooperation on files like Syria, the Middle East Peace Process, and Libya.
Maritime security is a priority for the EU as the world's largest trading bloc and as a global security provider. India is an important partner for the EU and the recently adopted India Strategy seeks to further strengthen and expand this partnership. Against this background, a French military vessel visited the port of Mumbai and hosted a group of EU military representatives on 24 January to promote the EU's role in fighting piracy and in contributing to maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean.
With 60% of the oceans relying outside nations jurisdiction, ensuring good governance at sea and securing the maritime domain becomes a challenge for every international actor. With a revised Action Plan and a Maritime Security Strategy under the umbrella of the Global Strategy, the EU has been working closely with international partners towards a safer maritime environment and a sustainable use of its resources.
For the past 10 years the EU has successfully deployed a CSDP military naval operation to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia. Today the threat of piracy has been minimised. At the same time the operation was tasked with monitoring fishing activity and reporting any illegal activity. Improved security conditions now allow communities to engage in fishing activities supported by EU and UN missions and initiatives.
Prevention is better than cure. This basic principle stands behind many of the EU activities. A pertinent example is the EU's civilian monitoring mission in Georgia (EUMM). It was deployed immediately following the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008. EUMM has helped since then to prevent new hostilities and enabled the affected population to resume a normal life free from fear.
