The Deputy Secretary General for the EU CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Pedro Serrano, visited Mogadishu on the occasion of the Somalia Security Conference held on December 4-5.
The President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo, convened the Conference that was attended by the Federal Government of Somalia, the Federal Members States of Somalia, as well as by the United Nations, the African Union and also by “Somalia’s friends and partners” (including the EU).
While in Mogadishu, Mr Serrano also paid a visit to the two CSDP Missions and personnel deployed in the Somali capital. In the course of a short address, he expressed gratitude and respect for “the people at the forefront” in difficult areas, making clear that he also spoke on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Defence, Federica Mogherini. He was welcomed by EUCAP Somalia Head of Mission, Maria-Cristina Stepanescu, and by EUTM Somalia Commander, Pietro Addis.
“CSDP Missions are the eyes and ears of the European Union on the ground, you know and understand more about areas of EU engagement than we can do at Brussels HQ level,” said Serrano during his speech.
