On 23rd January 2012, EU NAVFOR Operation Commander Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts welcomed Mr. Alexander Rondos, the recently appointed EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa to the Operation Headquarters in Northwood for a briefing on the EU NAVFOR mission and discussed future close cooperation.
Rear Admiral Potts welcomed the Special Representative, saying:
“I look forward to working very closely with the Special Representative. His appointment as part of the European Union’s Comprehensive Approach to the region will be very important in drawing together all EU activity in the region and ensuring it is all synchronised."
Mr. Alexander Rondos replied:
“This visit to EU NAVFOR – ATALANTA is a very important first step in starting my appointment. My goal is to achieve the whole greater than the sum of the parts involved in the comprehensive approach towards the Horn of Africa. To fulfil my role I am expecting to be guided by the expertise of EU NAVFOR and other specialists. There are serious challenges ahead but also exciting opportunities.”
Mr. Alexander Rondos was appointed EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa in December 2011 and took office on 1 January 2012.
The task of the Special Representative is to actively contribute to regional and international efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and development in the region comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.
Initially, the Special Representative was asked by the Council to focus on Somalia and the regional dimensions of the conflict there, as well as on piracy, which has its root causes in the instability of Somalia.
The appointment of a Special Representative forms part of a recently adopted EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa, setting out five priorities for EU action: building robust and accountable political structures; contributing to conflict resolution and prevention; mitigating security threats emanating from the region; promoting economic growth, and supporting regional economic cooperation (see Council Conclusions on the Horn of Africa, as adopted by the Council on 14 November 2011 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/11/st16/st1688.en11.pdf ).