France's action against maritime piracy and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) : Interests, interactions and priorities

Cédric Leboeuf (1)

1 CDMO - Centre de droit maritime et océanique

France is an active participant in the Contact Group and in its working groups. Since 2009, the French state attempts to draw attention to the situation in Somalia, arguing the destabilization of Somalia directly threatens the European and international security. As EU member state, France calls for responsibility and respect of international legal norms. Within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy, France plays a key role in promoting notably the coordination between civilian and military actors of the maritime surveillance. This paper addresses issues about the contribution of France within the different CGPCS working groups: attendance, discussions or even necessary impetus protecting various international, European and national interests. The role of France has to be appreciated regarding the EU presidency of the Contact Group. The interaction between the work of the CGPCS and other mechanisms, as for example the SHADE, INTERPOL, the Indian Ocean Commission or the Trust fund to support the initiatives of States countering piracy off the coast of Somalia, must be considered as well.

Domaines: Droit

Cédric Leboeuf. France's action against maritime piracy and the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) : Interests, interactions and priorities. Neptunus, 2015, 21 (1), pp.10. ⟨hal-03849691⟩