EU mulls more police powers for west Africa missions

The EU wants to further prop up anti-terror efforts at its overseas civilian missions in places like Niger.

Although such missions already seek to counter terrorism, the latest proposal (framed as a "mini-concept" by the EU's foreign policy branch, the European External Action Service, EEAS), entails giving them so-called "semi-executive functions."

Such functions includes direct support to the authorities by helping them carry out investigations, as well as aiding dedicated units...