BRUSSELS, July 22 (RIA Novosti) - The European Union will set up an Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), and will allocate $3.6 million for its startup phase, a press release from the EU Council said.
“Today's decision [of the Council of the European Union] allocates a budget of $3.6 million for the startup phase of the mission, i.e. until 30 November,” the statement said.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton emphasized that “Ukrainian Authorities have embarked on the critical path of civilian security sector reform and have requested the support of the European Union.”
“The EU is deploying this mission to assist Ukraine in this reform, including police and the rule of law. It will provide strategic advice for the development of effective, sustainable and accountable security services that contribute to strengthening the rule of law in Ukraine, for the benefit of all Ukrainian citizens throughout the country," the statement quoted Ashton as saying.
EUAM Ukraine will be headquartered in Kiev, “but regional outreach to support advisory tasks will start as soon as feasible.” The mission’s operations will be formally launched “once initial operating capability has been reached.” The mission’s 2-year mandate will begin at that point.
According to the press release, EUAM Ukraine will be “an unarmed, non-executive civilian mission.” European advisers will focus on the revision of security strategies and “the rapid implementation of reforms, in coordination and coherence with other EU efforts, as well as with the OSCE and other international partners.”
