EU training mission Mali (EUTM Mali)

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 2013/34/CFSP — EU military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It authorises an EU military mission to help train the Malian Armed Forces (MAF), in order to restore Mali’s military capacity and enable it to carry out military operations to restore its territorial integrity and reduce the threat posed by terrorist groups.

KEY POINTS

United Nations Resolution 2071 (2012)

This 2012 Resolution on the situation in Mali invited international partners, including the EU, to provide assistance, expertise, training and capacity-building support to the Malian army and security forces.
This decision responds to that invitation.

Objectives

The mandate of EUTM Mali has been renewed 4 times, most recently in March 2020 by Decision (CFSP) 2020/434 which also refocused the strategic objectives of the mission as being to:

contribute to improving the capabilities of the MAF under the control of Mali’s legitimate civilian authorities by providing the MAF with:
- military advice,
- training, including pre-deployment training,
- education and mentoring, through non-executive accompaniment up to the tactical level.
This should permit EUTM Mali to follow up on the activities of the MAF and to monitor its performance and behaviour, including with regard to the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law;
support G5 Sahel, through making the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries operational.

The decision also includes an increased indicative budget allocation to the mission of €133.7 million for a 4-year period from 19 May 2020 to 18 May 2024.

Activities

EUTM Mali’s activities are based on 4 strands:

training Malian military units;
advising MAF at all levels;
contributing to the improvement of the military education system, from schools to ministerial level;
providing advice and training to G5 Sahel Joint Force headquarters.

Political and strategic control

The Political and Security Committee (PSC) controls the political and strategic direction of EUTM Mali under the responsibility of the Council and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The PSC is granted certain powers by the Council, including powers to:
- amend the planning documents, including the mission plan, and the chain of command;
- take decisions on the appointment of the subsequent EU Mission Commanders.
The PSC must report to the Council at regular intervals.
The EU Military Committee monitors the proper execution of EUTM Mali conducted under the responsibility of the EU Mission Commander.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 17 January 2013. The validity of the decision has been extended until 18 May 2024 by Decision (CFSP) 2020/434.

BACKGROUND

As part of the EU’s foreign policy and specifically its common security and defence policy, the EU has adopted a security and development strategy for the Sahel (covering Mauritania, Mali and Niger, and parts of Burkina Faso and Chad).

For more information, see:

EUTM Mali — About Us (EUTM Mali).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP of 17 January 2013 on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali) (OJ L 14, 18.1.2013, pp. 19-21)

Successive amendments to Decision 2013/34/CFSP have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/434 of 23 March 2020 amending Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali) (OJ L 89, 24.3.2020, pp. 1-3)