Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2026/1458 of 25 June 2026 extending the mandate of the Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (EU BAM Rafah/1/2026)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/1458 29.6.2026 POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2026/1458 of 25 June 2026 extending the mandate of the Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (EU BAM Rafah/1/2026) THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38, third paragraph, thereof, Having regard to Council Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP of 25 November 2005 on establishing a European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah)(1), and in particular Article 10(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 10(1) of Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) is authorised, in accordance with Article 38, third paragraph, of the Treaty, to take the relevant decisions for the purpose of exercising the political control and strategic direction of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah), including the decision to appoint a Head of Mission.

(2) On 25 October 2023, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/2443(2), appointing Ms Nataliya APOSTOLOVA as Head of Mission of EU BAM Rafah from 1 November 2023 to 30 June 2024.

(3) On 26 June 2024, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/1818(3), extending the mandate of Ms Nataliya APOSTOLOVA as Head of Mission of EU BAM Rafah from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

(4) On 24 June 2025, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/1299(4), extending the mandate of Ms Nataliya APOSTOLOVA as Head of Mission of EU BAM Rafah from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

(5) On 26 June 2025, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/1283(5), amending Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP and extending the mandate of EU BAM RAFAH from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

(6) On 14 April 2026, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy proposed to extend the mandate of Ms Nataliya APOSTOLOVA as the Head of Mission of EU BAM Rafah from 1 July 2026 to 31 October 2026.

(7) Taking into account information provided by Israel and by the Palestinian Authority, the mandate of the Head of Mission of EU BAM Rafah should be extended by three months,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The mandate of Ms Nataliya APOSTOLOVA as Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) is extended from 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026.

(1) OJ L 327, 14.12.2005, p. 28, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/joint_action/2005/889/oj.

(2) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2023/2443 of 25 October 2023 on the appointment of the Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (EU BAM Rafah/2/2023) (OJ L, 2023/2443, 31.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2443/oj).

(3) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2024/1818 of 26 June 2024 extending the mandate of the Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (EU BAM Rafah/1/2024) (OJ L, 2024/1818, 27.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1818/oj).

(4) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2025/1299 of 24 June 2025 extending the mandate of the Head of Mission of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (EU BAM Rafah/1/2025) (OJ L, 2025/1299, 30.6.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1299/oj).

(5) Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1283 of 26 June 2025 amending Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP on establishing a European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (OJ L, 2025/1283, 27.6.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/ dec/2025/1283/oj).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1458/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 29.6.2026 Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

It shall apply subject to the adoption of a decision by the Council extending the validity of Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP beyond 30 June 2026.

Done at Brussels, 25 June 2026.

For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson L. MANDEL VENSILD 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1458/oj