Assembly/AU/Dec.21 (II) Page 1 DECISION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT BY THE EUROPEAN UNION OF A PEACE SUPPORT OPERATION FACILITY FOR THE AFRICAN UNION The Assembly: 1. RECALLS its Durban Decision of July 2002 on the Protocol relating to the establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) and the on-going efforts for its early entry into force and operationalization, as well as the active involvement of the AU in the search for lasting solutions to the various conflicts facing the Continent; 2. ACKNOWLEDGES that the proliferation of conflicts in Africa and associated violence constitute a major impediment in the attainment of sustainable development and growth, as well as the efforts towards poverty reduction. In particular, the Assembly UNDERLINES that the persistence of conflicts and the lack of resources to implement African initiatives prevent the Continent from taking full advantage of development cooperation, particularly the assistance offered by its development partners; 3. EXPRESSES ITS DETERMINATION to address the scourge of conflicts in Africa in a collective, comprehensive and decisive manner, within the framework of the AU and its relevant Organs, and with the full support of the wider international community; 4. WELCOMES the dynamic and reinforcing partnership that is developing between the AU and the European Union (EU) in promoting peace, security and stability in Africa, as a crucial area of cooperation and dialogue, and EXPRESSES its profound gratitude to the EU for the assistance rendered so far to the AU, especially in support of its peace and security agenda; 5. REQUESTS the EU to examine the possibility of setting up a Peace Support Operation Facility (PSOF), to fund peace support and peace keeping operations conducted under the authority of the AU, thereby enhancing the capacity of the Union to fully play its role in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa. Such a Facility should be based on the principle of solidarity among African countries and should be financed from resources allocated to each of them under the existing cooperation agreements with the EU, initially supplemented by an equivalent amount of unallocated European Development Fund (EDF) resources; 6. FURTHER REQUESTS the AU Commission to liaise with the EU Commission to work out the modalities and functioning of such Facility which should be sustainable and replenished whenever necessary.