The EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) - Operation Atalanta is the European Union counter piracy operation off the coast of Somalia.

The EU Naval Force was launched in December 2008 as part of the Comprehensive Approach to Piracy off the Horn of Africa in response to Somali-based piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean. Somali based piracy is characterised by criminals taking control of vessels transiting the High Risk Areas in the Region and extorting ransom money for the crew, the vessel and cargo; this bearing all features of organised crime.

The EU Naval Force operates within the framework of the European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) and International Law in response to the rising levels of piracy and armed robbery off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean

read more on www.eunavfor.eu/mission

Licensing policy:

Attribution-NoDerivs CC BY-ND: We allow downloading and sharing of our pictures as long as the EU Naval Force and/or units indicated serving under EU Naval Force are credited. We do not permit alternation in any way. We allow editorial use in context of recent media coverage.