Source: European Parliament |

European Parliament delegation to Mali: enhanced cooperation in the Sahel region

The delegation visited Bamako in order to discuss foreign, security and defence matters and related cooperation with the EU with Malian political authorities, to visit the EU missions on the ground and their international partner missions

BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 22, 2016/APO/ --

A delegation of Members of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Anna Fotyga (ECR, PL), Chair of the Subcommittee, travelled to Mali on 19-20 July. The delegation included Mr David McAllister (EPP, DE), Mr Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP,PL), Mr Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, FR), Mr Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar (S&D, ES), Mr Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR, PL), and Mr Javier Nart (ALDE, ES).

MEPs expressed their deepest condolences to the Malian people and the families of the Malian soldiers who lost their lives during the terrorist attack that took place on 19 July in Nampala, in the central region of the country.

The delegation visited Bamako in order to discuss foreign, security and defence matters and related cooperation with the EU with Malian political authorities, to visit the EU missions on the ground and their international partner missions.

MEPs travelled to the Koulikoro Training Centre of the EUTM Mali and saw the important work that the EU mission carries out there and were particularly impressed to see the first joint-training of the Liaison Officers from the G5 countries. This is in the framework of the enhancing of cooperation in the Sahel region.

MEPs also expressed their high regard for the work and professionalism of both EU Missions' ability to coordinate work with MINSUMA.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of European Parliament.