European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories

The EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS ), the police are the European Union mission in Palestine. The aim is to build a functioning Palestinian police and a rule of law judicial system in Palestine.

Seat of the mission is the 20 kilometers north of Jerusalem located Ramallah in the Palestinian territories. The mission is on the territory of Israel, EUPOL COPPS is active. Europe as a mission - actor, funders and staff adjuster wants to help the rule of law in the interior ( police) and the judicial sector of the Palestinian Authority or the resulting state of Palestine on the legs. 30 local staff and 53 international police officers from EU Member States and third countries (Canada, Turkey and Norway) make available personnel.

It quickly became apparent that the police is only the beginning of the engagement. Quick, the judicial system has been included in the commitment of EUPOL COPPS. In addition to police officers and prosecutors, lawyers and civilian experts are involved in the mission. Head of Mission is the British police officer Kenneth Deane ( born 1962). The Mission is working within the framework of the EU Common and Defence Policy ( CSDP ) and is under the leadership of the EU HR Catherine Ashton ( UK). Two officials from Germany were used in Ramallah.

Parallel to the EU Police Mission EUPOL COPPS European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah since 25 November 2005 works (EUBAM Rafah) as supporting mission control at the Gaza-Egypt border crossing in Rafah ( Gaza Strip ). After the closure of the transition due to the intra-Palestinian conflict over Gaza in June 2007 and the seizure of power by Hamas to carry out EUBAM Rafah is suspended since 15 June 2007.