# Council Decision 2014/181/CFSPShow full title

Council Decision 2014/181/CFSP of 10 March 2014 on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between            the European Union and the Central African Republic on the status in the Central African Republic of the European Union military            operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA)         

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U.K.

# Council Decision 2014/181/CFSP                     

# of 10 March 2014

# on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Central African                        Republic on the status in the Central African Republic of the European Union military operation in the Central African Republic                        (EUFOR RCA)                     

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 37 thereof, in conjunction with Article 218(5) and (6)                           of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,                        

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)On 10 February 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/73/CFSP(1), which provides that the status of Union-led units and personnel of the European Union military operation in the Central                              African Republic (EUFOR RCA), including the privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the fulfilment and                              smooth functioning of their mission, is to be the subject of an agreement concluded pursuant to Article 37 of the Treaty on                              European Union (TEU) and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the                              European Union (TFEU).

(2)Following the adoption of a Decision by the Council on 10 February 2014 authorising the opening of negotiations, the High                              Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in accordance with Article 37 TEU, negotiated an Agreement                              in the form of an Exchange of letters between the Union and the Central African Republic on the status of EUFOR RCA.

(3)In accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the TEU and to the TFEU, Denmark                              does not participate in the elaboration and the implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications.                              Consequently, Denmark is not participating in the adoption of this Decision and is neither bound by it nor subject to its                              application.

(4)The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

# Article 1U.K.

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Central African Republic on the status                     in the Central African Republic of the European Union military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) is hereby                     approved on behalf of the Union.                  

The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision.

# Article 2U.K.

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the respective letter in order                     to bind the Union.                  

# Article 3U.K.

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

Done at Brussels, 10 March 2014.

*For the Council*                            

*The President*                            

G. Vroutsis                            

U.K.

# Agreement

# in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Central African Republic on the status in the Central                              African Republic of the European Union military operation in the Central African republic (EUFOR RCA)                           

Brussels, 10 March 2014

H.E. Ms Catherine Samba-Panza

Chef d'État de la transition

Central African Republic

Your Excellency,

Following the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2134 (2014), the European Union will very soon deploy                                 a military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) in order to help establish a secure environment in your country.                              

As you will recall, on 16 April 2008 the Central African Republic entered into an Agreement on the status of the European                                 Union military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic (EUFOR Tchad/RCA) in accordance with United Nations Security                                 Council Resolution 1778 (2007).                              

The terms of that Agreement, which ceased to be in force when the last EUFOR Tchad/RCA troops left, are nevertheless ideally                                 suited to the needs of the European Union military operation which will be deployed in the Central African Republic.                              

I therefore suggest that all provisions of that Agreement (Articles 1 to 19) be made to apply to EUFOR RCA, on the understanding                                 that:                              
                  -  each mention of EUFOR in the above-mentioned articles will be considered to refer to EUFOR RCA; 
                  -  the means of transport referred to in Articles 1(3)(a), 3(2) and 4(3) will be considered to include the means of transport                                       belonging to the national contingents making up EUFOR RCA, but also those hired or chartered by EUFOR RCA;                                     
                  -  the reference to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007) of 25 September 2007 in Article 1(3)(b) will be understood                                       as a reference to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2134 (2014) of 28 January 2014.                                     

I should be grateful if you would let me know whether you accept these suggestions. If you do accept, this letter, together                                 with your reply, will constitute a legally-binding international agreement between the Central African Republic and the European                                 Union on the status of EUFOR RCA, which will enter into force on the date on which your letter of reply is received.                              

Please accept, Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration.

*For the European Union*                                     

C. Ashton                                     

                                      

Catherine Ashton

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Madam the High Representative,

Thank you for your letter of 10 March 2014 2014 regarding the deployment of a European Union military operation in the Central                                 African Republic, which reads as follows:                              

‘Following the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2134 (2014), the European Union will very soon deploy                                    an operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) in order to help establish a secure environment in your country.                              

As you will recall, on 16 April 2008 the Central African Republic entered into an Agreement on the status of the European                                    Union military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic (EUFOR Tchad/RCA) in accordance with United Nations Security                                    Council Resolution 1778 (2007).                              

The terms of that Agreement, which ceased to be in force when the last EUFOR Tchad/RCA troops left, are nevertheless ideally                                    suited to the needs of the European Union military operation which will be deployed in the Central African Republic.                              

I therefore suggest that all provisions of that Agreement (Articles 1 to 19) be made to apply to EUFOR RCA, on the understanding                                    that:                              
                  -  each mention of EUFOR in the above-mentioned articles will be considered to refer to EUFOR RCA;                                     
                  -  the means of transport referred to in Articles 1(3)(a), 3(2) and 4(3) will be considered to include the means of transport                                          belonging to the national contingents making up EUFOR RCA, but also those hired or chartered by EUFOR RCA;                                     
                  -  the reference to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007) of 25 September 2007 in Article 1(3)(b) will be understood                                          as a reference to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2134 (2014) of 28 January 2014.                                     

I should be grateful if you would let me know whether you accept these suggestions. If you do accept, this letter, together                                    with your reply, will constitute a legally-binding international agreement between the Central African Republic and the European                                    Union on the status of EUFOR RCA, which will enter into force on the date on which your letter of reply is received.’.                              

I am pleased to inform you that I accept the terms suggested in your letter.

Please accept, Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration.

*For the Central African Republic*                                     

Catherine Samba-Panza                                     

                                      

1

Council Decision 2014/73/CFSP on a European Union military operation in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) (OJ L 40, 11.2.2014, p. 59.)