EU men with guns: A comedy of errors

17. Apr 2013, 16:47

The EU foreign service just did a U-turn on a €50mn tender for bodyguards in Kabul, with leaked documents posing questions how a British firm with a frightening track record won it in the first place.

News in Brief

Today, 07:27 EU founder Schuman put on path to sainthood
Today, 07:27 EU cites 'progress' in Iran nuclear talks
Today, 07:26 German liberal FDP party rules out coalition with Greens
Today, 07:22 EU warns Lebanese elite of 'targeted sanctions'
Today, 07:17 Germany bans display of 'terrorist' Hamas flag
Today, 07:16 Both Macron and Le Pen suffer in local vote
Today, 07:15 Thousands attend Poland's gay pride rally
Today, 07:14 Poland says top officials hacked by Russian cyber-attack

Agenda

EU leaders discuss Turkey, Russia, migration This WEEK

Today, 07:02

EU foreign affairs ministers will try to sort out a new round of sanctions on Belarus, and EU affairs ministers will hold intergovernmental conferences with two candidate countries, Serbia and Montenegro.

Too soon to lift EU sanctions on Burundi, NGOs warn

Today, 07:11

The EU should not relax sanctions against Burundi until the regime there has stopped persecuting journalists and human rights activists, leading NGOs have said.

Very private security

24. Apr 2013, 16:33

EU diplomats work in some of the world's most dangerous places. The men who guard them cost millions each year. But are they any good? Does the EU award the contracts fairly? Two recent fiascos pose the questions. EUobserver investigates.

EUobserver investigative reports

24. Apr 2013, 16:10

EUobserver's look at private security firms is the latest in its series of investigative reports. Our investigations aim to take a critical look at events behind the scenes in EU institutions or to explore the real meaning of EU decisions.

About Andrew Rettman

22. Feb 2013, 09:20

Andrew Rettman writes about foreign relations for EUobserver. He joined the site in 2005 and specialises in Israel, Russia, the EU foreign service and security issues. He was born in Warsaw, Poland.

British firm to guard EU diplomats in Beirut

12. Aug 2013, 09:28

The EU has hired G4S, the world's largest security company, to guard its diplomats in Lebanon, amid increasing violence.

MEPs voice worry on security deals at EU embassies

15. Jul 2013, 09:25

MEPs have voiced concern about security arrangements at EU embassies, amid a "surprising" new decision on bodyguards in Kabul.

Controversial British firm wins EU security job in Gaza

30. Apr 2013, 09:22

The EU diplomatic service has confirmed that British company PPS will guard its people in Gaza and the West Bank despite the firm's poor track record.

Security firm wins EU contract despite tax problem

15. Mar 2013, 09:29

British private security firm Page Group has scooped a contract to protect EU diplomats in Afghanistan, but faces delays over local tax compliance.

EU bins security contract, annoys Libya

29. May 2012, 20:50

The EU foreign service has cancelled a €10 million contract with British security firm G4S in a minor diplomatic dispute with Libya.

Question marks over EU contract for Libya security firm

8. May 2012, 14:06

The EU's foreign relations service has awarded a juicy contract to British security firm G4S in Libya despite the fact it has no permission to work there.

EU to spend €50mn on private security in Afghanistan

11. May 2012, 09:24

The EU's external action service plans to spend up to €50 million on private security guards for its Afghanistan mission over the next four years.

Ashton to spend €15mn on private security firms

9. Mar 2012, 16:58

Catherine Ashton's foreign service is to spend €15 million on private security firms to protect diplomats in dangerous places.