The European Union formally agreed today to oversee the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt at Rafah, EU foreign ministers said in a statement.
It is the EU's first direct security mission in the Middle East.
Jack Straw
"The mission in Rafah is a further demonstration of the strength of the European Union's growing international role," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country holds the EU presidency, said.
The mission to supervise the work of Palestinian customs and security officers is the most important undertaken by the EU in its role as a member of the quartet - with Russia, the United States and the United Nations - seeking Middle East peace.
Mr Straw said the EU would have 10 international security missions in place by the end of this year, up from four at the end of last year.
He added that this showed "a level of activity and ambition that would have been unthinkable even 12 months ago", and that it would ensure Gaza did not remain a prison.