# L_2008163EN.01005101.xml

| 24.6.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 163/51 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

24.6.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 163/51

---

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/481/CFSP

of 23 June 2008

amending Joint Action 2008/131/CFSP extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 14, 18(5) and 23(2) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | On 18 February 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/131/CFSP (1) extending the mandate of Mr Francesc Vendrell as the Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan until 31 May 2008, and on 26 May 2008 it adopted Joint Action 2008/391/CFSP (2) extending his mandate until 30 June 2008. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

On 18 February 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/131/CFSP (1) extending the mandate of Mr Francesc Vendrell as the Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan until 31 May 2008, and on 26 May 2008 it adopted Joint Action 2008/391/CFSP (2) extending his mandate until 30 June 2008.

| (2) | Mr Francesc Vendrell has informed the Secretary-General/High Representative that he is available to continue serving as European Union Special Representative (EUSR) until 31 August 2008. His mandate as EUSR should be further extended until that date. The Council intends to appoint a new EUSR for the following period until 28 February 2009. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

Mr Francesc Vendrell has informed the Secretary-General/High Representative that he is available to continue serving as European Union Special Representative (EUSR) until 31 August 2008. His mandate as EUSR should be further extended until that date. The Council intends to appoint a new EUSR for the following period until 28 February 2009.

| (3) | Article 5(1) of Joint Action 2008/131/CFSP, as amended by Joint Action 2008/391/CFSP, provided a financial reference amount of EUR 975 000 to cover expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR until 30 June 2008. This financial reference amount should be increased by EUR 678 000 in order to cover expenditure related to the remaining period of the EUSR's mandate, |
| --- | --- |

(3)

Article 5(1) of Joint Action 2008/131/CFSP, as amended by Joint Action 2008/391/CFSP, provided a financial reference amount of EUR 975 000 to cover expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR until 30 June 2008. This financial reference amount should be increased by EUR 678 000 in order to cover expenditure related to the remaining period of the EUSR's mandate,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

Amendment

Joint Action 2008/131/CFSP is hereby amended as follows:

| 1. | Article 1 shall be replaced by the following:

  ‘Article 1
  European Union Special Representative
  The mandate of Mr Francesc Vendrell as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan is hereby extended until 31 August 2008.’; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Article 1 shall be replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Francesc Vendrell as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan is hereby extended until 31 August 2008.’;

| 2. | Article 5(1) shall be replaced by the following:

  ‘1.   The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period from 1 March 2008 to 31 August 2008 shall be EUR 1 653 000.’ |
| --- | --- |

2.

Article 5(1) shall be replaced by the following:

‘1.   The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period from 1 March 2008 to 31 August 2008 shall be EUR 1 653 000.’

Article 2

Entry into force

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Article 3

Publication

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Official Journal of the European Union

Done at Luxembourg, 23 June 2008.

For the Council

The President

I. JARC

---

(1)  
  OJ L 43, 19.2.2008, p. 26.

1

(2)  
  OJ L 137, 27.5.2008, p. 52.

2

---