The Improving the Effectiveness of Capabilities in EU Conflict Prevention (IECEU) project analyses best practices and lessons learned in the field of EU conflict prevention and peace building capabilities. It searches for new ways of improving the EU crisis management activities by producing a catalogue of practices, new solutions and approaches.
The Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) is currently conducting a broad research on the effectiveness of the European Union Aviation Security Mission in South Sudan (EUAVSEC). The study focuses on EUAVSEC activities in assisting and advising South Sudan in establishing the aviation security organisation at the Ministry of Transport and strengthening aviation security at Juba International Airport.
The comprehensive research in South Sudan will identify the successes and potential shortcomings in the implementation of the mission mandate with the aim of identifying progress made in the field of aviation security. The assessment is implemented with EUAVSEC engagement and aims at identifying best practices, lessons learnt and drawbacks related to the EU engagement in the aviation reform activities in South Sudan.
After the independence of South Sudan in July 2011, the EUAVSEC mission trained and mentored security services, provided advice and assistance on aviation security, as well assupported the coordination of security activities related to aviation. The mission was part of the comprehensive approach of the EU to Sudan and South Sudan as agreed by EU Foreign Ministers in June 2011. This approach defined the EU's strategy to post-independent South Sudan, covering all aspects of the EU's support to this country: political/diplomatic, security and rule of law, stabilisation, development, human rights, humanitarian and trade.
The research team from AIES visited South Sudan to collect relevant information and hear all sides that are in any way influenced by the work of the mission. The team conducted large number of interviews with several stakeholders, namely representatives of the EU delegation, UNMISS, local institutions as well as NGOs. Confronting all perspectives is essential for the research findings, which can be used to increase the efficiency of future actions of the EU.
As part of the research the IECEU team was pleased to meet with EU and non-EU officials. They all very constructively shared their opinions related to the complexity of the EU’s engagement in South Sudan, management of the CSDP mission with diverse nationalities, the EU engagement in recent years and the environment where the mission operated. The research team has also conducted additional interviews with EU representatives in Brussels and Embassy of South Sudan in Berlin.
A roundtable on the topic of EU engagement in South Sudan and other missions in Africa (DR Congo, Libya, and the Central African Republic will also be organised during spring 2016 and research findings will be published on the IECEU website.
IECEU is financed through the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020 and lasts for 33 months. It started in May 2015 and ends in 2018.
