Somalia

As a result of a considerable escalation in acts of piracy over the past years off the coast of Somalia, the European Union launched its first naval operation under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in order to protect humanitarian aid and reduce the disruption to the shipping routes and the de-stabilising of the maritime environment in the region. This military operation, called "EUNAVFOR Somalia operation ATALANTA", was launched in support of UN Security Council Resolutions 1801(2008), 1811(2008), 1814 (2008), 1816 (2008), 1831(2008), 1838 (2008), 1844(2008), 1846 (2008), 1851(2008), 1853(2008), 1863(2009), 1872(2009), 1897(2009) and 1950(2010). 

On 9 July 2009, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted a decision to deploy up to three members of the Slovenian Armed Forces to the EU-led maritime military operation ‘EU NAVFOR Somalia’ (with a possibility of rotation), thus contributing to the resolution of crisis in this area. The first Slovenian Armed Forces member was deployed to the operation at the end of September 2009. He worked in Djibouti. Despite the limited naval capabilities of the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovenian Armed Forces actively participate in the operation to a limited extent. In this way the Republic of Slovenia, as a maritime country, joins the EU's efforts to protect sea routes and vessels delivering humanitarian aid to displaced persons in Somalia within the UN World Food Programme. With its participation in the operation, the Republic of Slovenia partially assumes responsibility for the protection of sea routes, thus indirectly protecting Slovenian citizens and possessions, since international transport vessels also employ Slovenian sailors and Slovenian vessels also sail through this area. At the same time, by providing safety for vessels transporting raw materials, equipment and spare parts, the operation protects the economic interests of the EU in order to ensure smooth operation and development of certain industries.