Lesssons from Atalanta and EU counter-piracy policies

Report on two experts' group meetings, which took place in Paris on 23-24 March and in Brussels on 17 June 2011. Beginning with the premise that there is a need for a single EU piracy coordinator, the meetings looked at what this person, whether ambassador or special envoy, should be aiming to achieve. The meetings further looked at how the European External Action Service (EEAS) and, above all, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) could revive quasi-dormant Rules of Engagement to be used when needed, with appropriate political control and called for a more open and constructive cooperation between the various bodies involved in the various stages which ultimately lead to action.