(CNN) -- The European Union will launch its first naval operation Tuesday, protecting vessels from pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia, EU policy chief Javier Solana announced Monday. A French army helicopter taking off from French frigate Nivose,  on patrol in the Gulf of Aden. EU foreign ministers approved the mission during their regular meeting in Brussels on Monday. Solana said the operation is "very important" because EU vessels will be operating "in a place in the world that everybody's looking at because of the new problems related to piracy." "It's very important that we have taken that decision to launch it tomorrow," he added.
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EU force will take over the role of escorting U.N. World Food Program vessels
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Role includes "protection of vulnerable vessels cruising off the Somali coast"
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Pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels off Somalia's coast this year
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Warships from U.S., India, Russia and Malaysia also patrol region
The @placeholder-based pirates have extended their reach beyond Somalia's coastline.