The EU has announced that it will increase its financial support to AMISOM (the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia) by €142 million. This brings the total EU aid to AMISOM close to €600 million, confirming the EU’s vital role in the stabilization and reconstruction efforts in the country.

On 16 September 2013, a high level conference will take place in Brussels, bringing together Somalia and its international partners, with a view to building on the progress achieved so far and gathering further support for the country’s first steps towards stability and development.
 
ECSA welcomes the EU’s recent decision and is a strong supporter of the Union’s efforts in rebuilding Somalia, be it through political dialogue, its development aid, its invaluable military presence in the area (EUNAVFOR Atalanta, EUCAP Nestor, EUTM Somalia),  or its support to AMISOM. These efforts contribute to the establishment of the rule of law by creating an environment of safety and security, thus making Somalia less conducive to piracy and other unlawful activities which, given the country’s proximity to one of the world’s most busy shipping lanes, have for too long posed a threat to the global supply chain.

The official press release can be found here