Head of Mission EUAM Ukraine visits ZIF and the Bundestag

On 12 November 2024, ZIF welcomed the Head of Mission of the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, Danish diplomat Rolf Holmboe, for a one-day exchange in Berlin. Extensive talks and discussions on key EUAM topics were held with the Federal Foreign Office, the ZIF Human Resources and Security teams and the ZIF management.

Parliamentary breakfast

The day began with a parliamentary breakfast in the German Bundestag. At the invitation of ZIF in cooperation with Roderich Kiesewetter MP, representatives of four parliamentary groups met to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the work of EUAM. The talks showed that there is a great deal of consensus among the parliamentary groups of the former governing coalition and the largest opposition party on general support for Ukraine.

Exchange at ZIF

This was followed by a panel discussion in the ‘ZIF Xchange Spaces’ format series on the topic of ‘Supporting Reforms during War: An Update on EUAM Ukraine’. In addition to Rolf Holmboe, Julia Friedrich from the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), who was until recently seconded to EUAM by ZIF, and Dr Wilfried Jilge, an expert on Ukraine currently working at the Federal Foreign Office, took part.

Insights from the discussions

The dialogue with the Head of Mission included discussions on operational challenges and the current situation in the occupied territories and on the front line. They also discussed the role of the West, including in the context of the latest political developments in the USA and Germany.

Holmboe emphasised that close coordination between the EUAM and the EU Commission could make aid to Ukraine more targeted and effective, which would further strengthen the country's willingness to reform - even under the challenging conditions of an ongoing war. Although the situation on the front remains tense, it is not considered hopeless if Western support continues. North Korea's influence is also increasing the international dimension of the conflict and extending it to the Indo-Pacific region, which brings additional risks but also new strategic opportunities.

About the mission

The EUAM was established in 2014 with the aim of supporting Ukraine in reforming its civilian security sector. The mission's mandate includes supporting the police, judiciary, public prosecutor's office, parliament and the State Security Service of Ukraine. Germany is making a significant contribution to the mission and is currently providing 14 experts who are seconded to EUAM by ZIF. Following the temporary evacuation in February 2022, the mission resumed its work in Lviv and Kyiv in the autumn of the same year.