European Council Conclusions on the Sahel
LUXEMBURG, Luxembourg, October 26, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 3041st FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Council meeting
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
“1. As the Council emphasised in its conclusions of 27 October 2009 and its declaration of
26 July 2010, the development of cross-border threats such as terrorism and organised crime,
coupled with extreme poverty, unresolved internal conflicts and the weakness and fragility of
the States concerned, constitutes a growing challenge for the stability of the region and for the
European Union. These threats directly affect the local populations and States of the region,
particularly Mauritania, Mali and Niger. They also have an impact on the security of
European nationals.
2. In close cooperation with the States of the region, the United Nations, the African Union and
other international partners, and in support of the efforts already undertaken by the Sahel
States, the European Union, following up the work being done by the Commission and the
Council Secretariat to formulate a holistic and integrated approach, intends to make use of
various instruments at its disposal in a coherent way to foster security, stability, development
and good governance in the Sahel-Saharan strip. The EU is also encouraging the
strengthening of dialogue and cooperation between the countries of the region.
3. To this end, the Council invites the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, in association with the Commission, to draw up a strategy on the Sahel for
the beginning of next year.”
SOURCE
European Council
