The restoration of a lasting peace in Mali is essential for long term stability in the Sahel region and in a broader sense for Africa and Europe. At the request of the Malian Government and on the basis of UN resolutions, in particular the UN Security Council Resolution 2085, the Member States of the European Union agreed to establish a mission to train the Malian Armed Forces (MaAF), in the framework of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The First Mandate for the EU-Training Mission in Mali was established in February 2013. In May 2014 the second Mandate was decided which will last until May 2016.