I want to update you on recent developments in various European Security and Defence Policy missions prior to the summer recess. Missions have now officially launched in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Given recent events in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, I thought it might also be helpful for the Committee to be aware of the latest position on the two ESDP missions there before the House rises.

AFGHANISTAN

  On 15 June the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan was launched in Kabul with a budget of €43,600,000. The UK contributes 17%, making the cost to the UK approximately £5,300,000. My predecessor sent an Explanatory Memorandum on the decision to launch the mission, which the Commons European Scrutiny Committee cleared as `politically important' on 25 April and the Lords Select Committee on the European Union cleared on 26 April.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

  The EU Police Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo was launched on 1 July to replace the EU Police Mission in Kinshasa, which closed on 30 June. The EU Security Sector Reform Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been extended to run until 30 June 2008. Their agreed budgets from 1 July are €5,500,000 for the EU Police Mission and €9,700,000 for the EU Security Sector Reform Mission, of which the UK will contribute approximately £630,000 and £1,140,000 respectively. My predecessor sent Explanatory Memoranda on these missions, which the Commons European Scrutiny Committee cleared as `politically important' on 6 June and the Lords Select Committee on the European Union cleared on 7 June.

THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

  On 18 June, the General Affairs and External Relations Council agreed to resume normal relations with the Palestinian Authority with a view to developing direct practical and financial support to Prime Minister Fayyad's government. The EU Police Support Mission will now resume and develop its activities in the West Bank, which had been restricted while Hamas was in the Palestinian Civil Police chain of command. The EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point temporarily suspended its activities on 15 June. The EU will continuously monitor the situation in Gaza with a view to the mission resuming its activities as soon as the situation allows. In the meantime the number of personnel in the mission will be reduced, but it will retain its ability to re-deploy at the Rafah Crossing Point at short notice. The mission will also examine the possibilities for the remaining mission personnel to engage in training activities with the Palestinian Authority border and customs officers or to support the re-engagement of the EU Police Support Mission. None of the mission personnel are in Gaza. My predecessor sent an Explanatory Memorandum on the extension of the Rafah mission, which the Commons European Scrutiny Committee cleared as `politically important' on 2 May and the Lords Select Committee on the European Union cleared at the Chairman's sift on 1 May. I will keep you informed of developments.

SUDAN

  The African Union Political and Security Committee agreed on 22 June to extend the mandate of the African Union Mission in Sudan until the end of December 2007. The EU Supporting Action has therefore also been extended without amendment to the Joint Action, which is open-ended. My predecessor sent an Explanatory Memorandum on the Council Decision extending financing for the Supporting Action, which the Commons European Scrutiny Committee cleared as `not legally or politically important' on 18 April and the Lords Select Committee on the European Union cleared at the Chairman's sift on 17 April. That Decision allocated enough funds to finance the Supporting Action for four months beyond the end of June. The next financial review will therefore be due in October, assuming that UN transition is not far enough along by then that EU support is no longer necessary. I will alert the Committees to future developments.

IRAQ

  In Michael Connarty's letter of 27 June, responding to my predecessor's letter regarding the probable extension of the EU Rule of Law Mission to Iraq, he asked for more information regarding complementary European Community rule of law activity in Iraq. The Commission has contributed over €720 million to aid and reconstruction since 2003. Almost all of this has been channelled through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq or the newly launched International Compact, led by the Government of Iraq and the UN. Very little of this funding has been focussed on the rule of law.

  During the first half of 2007, the Commission has liased with other donors—including the UK—and the Government of Iraq on possible areas of engagement in the rule of law sector. Initial suggestions are that it could build capacity in the judiciary and support NGOs working in the legal field but no formal proposals have yet been brought forward. We are pressing the Commission to focus on the delivery of a programme in this area in the second half of 2007 and beyond.

  I will continue to ensure that you are alerted to preparations for European Security and Defence Policy activity at an early opportunity.

9 July 2007