International and regional bodies
Somalia and the European Union
The EU and its forerunner have worked with Somalia since the 1960s, when Somalia became an associate of the European Economic Community. Since 2008 the EU has run three missions linked to Somalia: the naval Operation Atalanta, the training mission EUTM Somalia and the civilian EUCAP Somalia. The EU backs Somalia's unity and called for dialogue with Somaliland in December 2025.
How do Somalia and the European Union relate today?
The EU runs a naval operation, Atalanta, off the Somali coast and in the Red Sea. It protects World Food Programme ships and counters piracy, and it supports the EU's wider approach to Somalia (EUNAVFOR Atalanta). Portugal took command of the operation's force in October 2026 (same source).
The EU also has two sister missions (EUNAVFOR, sister missions):
- EUTM Somalia: strengthens Somalia's federal defence institutions so that Somali authorities can take over security.
- EUCAP Somalia: builds Somalia's civilian maritime law enforcement, including in Somaliland.
The EU is a donor to the World Bank's Somalia Multi-Partner Fund, which pays for core government systems (World Bank, Somalia Multi-Partner Fund). It also funds IGAD's free-movement project, which trained 40 Somali border and immigration officers in Mogadishu in October 2026 (IGAD, 10 October 2026).
When did contact begin?
In the 1960s Italy's sponsorship allowed Somalia to become an associate of the European Economic Community (EEC), the EU's forerunner (US Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study, "Foreign Relations, 1960-69").
Which EU missions work on Somalia?
- Operation Atalanta, from 2008: set up by Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP of 10 November 2008 to deter, prevent and stop piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast and to protect World Food Programme ships. It was based on UN Security Council resolutions 1814, 1816 and 1838 of 2008. Its first headquarters was at Northwood in the United Kingdom, and its first budget for common costs was €8.3 million (EUR-Lex, Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP). Its headquarters is now at Rota naval base in Spain (EUNAVFOR Atalanta).
- EUTM Somalia, from 2010: set up by Council Decision 2010/96/CFSP of 15 February 2010 to help train Somali security forces for the Transitional Federal Government. The first target was 2,000 recruits, trained "mainly in Uganda", with a liaison office in Nairobi (EUR-Lex, Decision 2010/96/CFSP).
- EUCAP Nestor, from 2012, renamed EUCAP Somalia in 2016: a civilian mission set up on 16 July 2012 to build maritime security capacity in Djibouti, Kenya, the Seychelles and Somalia, with its headquarters in Djibouti (EUR-Lex, Decision 2012/389/CFSP). On 12 December 2016 it was renamed EUCAP Somalia and refocused on Somalia alone: fisheries inspection, search and rescue, counter-smuggling, anti-piracy and coastal policing (EUR-Lex, Decision (CFSP) 2016/2240).
By its own count, Atalanta has transferred 177 suspected pirates to the authorities. It has protected 2,519 WFP ships carrying 3,311,078 tonnes of food and aid (EUNAVFOR Atalanta).
For the security side in full, see Foreign forces in Somalia and Piracy off Somalia. For other bodies inside Somalia, see International bodies in Somalia.
Who built the tie?
- Alexander Rondos: appointed EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa from 1 January 2012. Somalia was his first priority, including support for the UN-led political process and the Djibouti Peace Agreement (EUR-Lex, Decision 2011/819/CFSP).
- Rear Admiral Phillip Jones: named the first EU Operation Commander of Atalanta in 2008 (EUR-Lex, Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP).
- Colonel Ricardo González Elul: named the first Mission Commander of EUTM Somalia in 2010 (EUR-Lex, Decision 2010/96/CFSP).
How much money has the EU put in?
- Debt relief: in March 2020 the EU contributed to clearing Somalia's arrears to the African Development Bank, alongside a bridge loan from the United Kingdom (World Bank, 25 March 2020).
- Multi-Partner Fund: the EU is one of the supporters of this fund, which was set up in 2013 (World Bank, Somalia Multi-Partner Fund).
- Mission budgets: EUCAP's budget was set at €12 million for 16 December 2015 to 28 February 2017 (EUR-Lex, Decision (CFSP) 2016/2240).
For all donors, see Aid and humanitarian funding.
How does the EU deal with Somaliland and the member states?
- Recognition question: after Israel recognised Somaliland in December 2025, the EU said it "reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity" of Somalia. It also said: "The EU encourages meaningful dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia" (The Media Line, 28 December 2025).
- Maritime work in Somaliland: EUCAP Somalia's mandate includes building maritime law enforcement capacity in Somaliland (EUNAVFOR, sister missions).
Related pages
Sources
- EUNAVFOR Atalanta · eunavfor.eu
- EUNAVFOR, sister missions · eunavfor.eu
- World Bank, Somalia Multi-Partner Fund · worldbank.org
- IGAD, 10 October 2026 · igad.int
- US Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study, "Foreign Relations, 1960-69" · countrystudies.us
- EUR-Lex, Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP · eur-lex.europa.eu
- EUR-Lex, Decision 2010/96/CFSP · eur-lex.europa.eu
- EUR-Lex, Decision 2012/389/CFSP · eur-lex.europa.eu
- EUR-Lex, Decision (CFSP) 2016/2240 · eur-lex.europa.eu
- EUR-Lex, Decision 2011/819/CFSP · eur-lex.europa.eu
- World Bank, 25 March 2020 · worldbank.org
- The Media Line, 28 December 2025 · themedialine.org
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- Somalia and the OICSomalia in the OIC since 1969: the Rabat summit, the 2011 famine office, the contact group, Islamic Development Bank loans and the Somaliland resolutions.
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