EU and Ukraine sign agreement on EU Advisory Mission

November 17, 2014

EU ad Ukraine signed the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA), which will allow the EUAM to operate within the territory of Ukraine. The Council decided that the EU Mission will be deployed on 1 December 2014.

On 17 November 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA), which will allow the EU Mission to operate within the territory of Ukraine and prepare it for the launch.

The Council decided that the EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine) will be deployed on 1 December 2014. “The EU Mission – said Federica Mogherini – will assist in the reform of the Ukrainian civilian security sector, including police and civilian security services, public prosecution and the courts. EU experts will work for efficient, trusted civilian security institutions under democratic control. Like the Association Agreement, the Status of Mission Agreement is a further sign of our joint efforts for a genuine reform process for Ukraine.”

EUAM Ukraine will initially have a mandate of two years and will advise on the development of the reform strategy, a framework for planning concrete steps and a structure to oversee implementation.

“It’s basically about rebuilding almost from scratch a very large sector of the Ukrainian State – said the Head of Mission Kálmán Mizsei. We believe that this is difficult and complicated. It is an historical moment for the Ukrainians to seize and build the State as it should be.”

The respect for human rights, the fight against corruption and gender issues will feature on the Missions agenda across its different fields of action.

EUAM Ukraine will have its headquartered in Kyiv. It is an unarmed and non-executive civilian mission. For the first 12 months, the mission will have a budget of €13.1 million available.