“The Council notes with concern the continuing impact of piracy off the coast of Somalia on international maritime security and on the economic activities and security of countries in the region. The Council reiterates its determination to strengthen the EU’s overall engagement to enhance regional capacity to fight piracy.
The Council commends Operation Atalanta for its successes in deterring, preventing and disrupting pirates’ activities, especially in protecting World Food Programme and AMISOM shipments. The Council agrees to prolong the operation for another two years until December 2012. The Council intends to have a strategic discussion on the operation in early Autumn as part of the EU’s comprehensive engagement in the region. The Council also agrees in principle to extend the Area of Operations further to its East and South in order to respond to the increased range of pirates’ attacks. It strongly encourages the international maritime community to further promote full adherence to recommended best practice in order to continue increasing its capacity to meet its responsibility to keep its vessels safe.”