Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On 17 January 2013, the Council of the European Union established the European Union training mission, EUTM Mali, which will provide military training and advice to the Malian armed forces to improve their military capacity and their effectiveness in guaranteeing the country's territorial integrity. Training will also be provided in international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians and human rights. It is envisaged that the training component of the mission will be made up of approximately 250 personnel and this will be further supplemented by additional troops who will be deployed to provide force protection.

Unlike the EU-led mission to the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR Tchad/RCA, EUTM Mali, which is being launched in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2071 and 2085 of 2012, will not have any combat functions and is totally separate and distinct from any combat support being provided to the Malian armed forces by France and other countries. It will be conducted at the invitation of the Malian Government and in close co-ordination with the UN, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and other key partners.

The Council has asked the mission commander, General François Lecointre, to carry out preparations for the early launch of the mission. To this end, force generation for the mission is currently ongoing at EU level. All member states have been invited by the mission commander to provide contributions to the mission.

Ireland is currently considering the provision of a small number of Defence Forces personnel to the mission. Any participation by Ireland in this mission would most likely be limited to a small contribution of trainers and would be subject to Government approval.

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