# L_2023040EN.01002401.xml

| 10.2.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 40/24 |
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10.2.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 40/24

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POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2023/311

of 7 February 2023

on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA), and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA/1/2023)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP of 10 November 2008 on a European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) (1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to take the relevant decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) (the ‘EU Force Commander’). |
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(1)

Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to take the relevant decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) (the ‘EU Force Commander’).

| (2) | On 9 November 2022, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 (2), appointing Commodore Nuno Filipe CORTES LOPES as the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta). |
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(2)

On 9 November 2022, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 (2), appointing Commodore Nuno Filipe CORTES LOPES as the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta).

| (3) | By Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2441 (3), the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta) was renamed the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA). |
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(3)

By Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2441 (3), the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta) was renamed the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA).

| (4) | On 29 December 2022, the EU Operation Commander recommended the appointment of Captain Juan María IBÁÑEZ MARTÍN as the EU Force Commander from 15 February 2023. The Spanish authorities indicated that Captain Juan María IBÁÑEZ MARTÍN will be promoted to Rear Admiral upon his appointment as EU Force Commander. |
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(4)

On 29 December 2022, the EU Operation Commander recommended the appointment of Captain Juan María IBÁÑEZ MARTÍN as the EU Force Commander from 15 February 2023. The Spanish authorities indicated that Captain Juan María IBÁÑEZ MARTÍN will be promoted to Rear Admiral upon his appointment as EU Force Commander.

| (5) | On 6 January 2023, the EU Military Committee agreed to that recommendation. |
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(5)

On 6 January 2023, the EU Military Committee agreed to that recommendation.

| (6) | Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 should therefore be repealed, |
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(6)

Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 should therefore be repealed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Captain Juan María IBÁÑEZ MARTÍN is hereby appointed EU Force Commander of the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) from 15 February 2023.

Article 2

Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 is hereby repealed.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on 15 February 2023.

Done at Brussels, 7 February 2023.

For the Political and Security Committee

The Chairperson

D. PRONK

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(1)  
  OJ L 301, 12.11.2008, p. 33.

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(2)  Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2022/2205 of 9 November 2022 on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta), and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/1224 (ATALANTA/6/2022) (OJ L 293, 14.11.2022, p. 48).

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(3)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2441 of 12 December 2022 amending Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP on a European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (OJ L 319, 13.12.2022, p. 80).

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