BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, May 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Mr Filip de Ceuninck was today appointed new Head of Mission for the EU CSDP mission in Niger, EUCAP SAHEL Niger.
Mr de Ceuninck (Belgium) has been interim Head of Mission since November 2013, succeeding General Francisco Espinosa Navas, who had been in the position since the mission was established in July 2012.
EUCAP SAHEL Niger, embedded in the EU strategy for the Sahel, provides advice and training to support the Nigerien authorities in strengthening their capacities for combating terrorism and organised crime. Around 50 international experts from 10 EU member states
in the mission, which is based in Niamey and has liaison offices in Mali and Mauretania.
The term of the new Head of Mission will initially run until 15 July 2014, the current end of the mission’s mandate. The Political and Security Committee agreed on an extension of the mission’s mandate until 15 July 2016, subject to a Council decision.
Today’s decision was taken by the EU’s Political and Security Committee.
More details: Factsheet on EUCAP SAHEL Niger
Annex: CV of Mr Filip de Ceuninck
Filip DE CEUNINCK, Head of Mission EUCAP SAHEL Niger.
Date of birth: 3 June 1958.
Nationality: Belgian.
Profession: Police Commissioner within Belgian Federal Police.
Education : Ecole d’application des Officiers de Gendarmerie, Brussels;
State University of Ghent: Master’s degree in Criminological sciences;
Royal Military Academy, Brussels.
Professional experience:
2014 – ongoing: Head of Mission EUCAP SAHEL Niger.
2013-2014: Acting Head of Mission EUCAP SAHEL Niger.
2012-2013: Deputy Head of Mission EUCAP SAHEL Niger.
2010-2012: Belgian Federal Police, Liaison officer.
2008-2010: Liaison officer within the Georgian Ministry of Interior as part of EU mission
EUMM Georgia.
2006-2008: Police advisor in EU Police Reform Project in the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia.
2003-2006: Programme Director on Intelligence and Organised Crime within EU mission
EUPOL PROXIMA and EU Police Advisory Team in the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia.
1983-2003: Different functions within the National Gendarmerie and within the Belgian
Federal Police: Judiciary Commissioner- Federal Judicial Police; Supervisor Special Units
in the Gendarmerie, Federal Police; Deputy District Commander; etc.
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