# Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2007Show full title

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2007 of 10 November 2015 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in            Bosnia and Herzegovina         

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U.K.

# Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2007                     

# of 10 November 2015

# extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof,

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

Whereas:

(1)On 19 January 2015, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2015/77(1) appointing Mr Lars-Gunnar WIGEMARK as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mandate                              of the EUSR is to expire on 31 October 2015.

(2)The mandate of the EUSR should be extended for a further period of 16 months.

(3)The EUSR will implement the mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of                              the objectives of the Union's external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

## Article 1U.K.European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Lars-Gunnar WIGEMARK as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is hereby                     extended until 28 February 2017. The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, based on an assessment                     by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs                     and Security Policy (HR).                  

## Article 2U.K.Policy objectives

The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the following policy objectives of the Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH): continued                     progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multi-ethnic and united                     BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards membership of the Union. The Union will                     also continue to support the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in BiH.                  

## Article 3U.K.Mandate

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:

offer the Union's advice and facilitate the political process;

ensure consistency and coherence of Union action;

facilitate progress on political, economic and European priorities;

monitor and advise the executive and legislative authorities at all levels of government in BiH, and liaise with the authorities                              and political parties in BiH;                           

ensure the implementation of the Union's efforts in the whole range of activities in the field of the rule of law and the                              security sector reform, promote overall Union coordination of, and give local political direction to, Union efforts in tackling                              organised crime and corruption and, in this context, provide the HR and the Commission with assessments and advice as necessary;                           

provide support for a reinforced and more effective interface between criminal justice and the police in BiH;

without prejudice to the military chain of command, offer the EU Force Commander political guidance on military issues with                              a local political dimension, in particular concerning sensitive operations, relations with local authorities and with the                              local media; consult with the EU Force Commander before taking political action that may have an impact on the security situation;                           

coordinate and implement the Union's communication efforts on Union issues towards the public in BiH;

promote the process of EU integration through targeted public diplomacy and Union outreach activities designed to ensure a                              broader understanding and support from the BiH public on EU related matters, including by means of engagement of local civil                              society actors;                           

contribute to the development and consolidation of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in BiH, in accordance                              with the Union's human rights policy and the Union Guidelines on Human Rights;                           

engage with relevant BiH authorities on their full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia                              (ICTY);                           

in line with the Union integration process, advise, assist, facilitate and monitor political dialogue on the necessary constitutional                              changes;                           

maintain close contacts and consultations with the High Representative in BiH and other relevant international organisations                              working in the country;                           

provide advice to the HR as necessary concerning natural or legal persons on whom restrictive measures could be imposed in                              view of the situation in BiH;                           

without prejudice to the applicable chains of command, help to ensure that all Union instruments in the field are applied                              coherently to attain the Union's policy objectives.                           

## Article 4U.K.Implementation of the mandate

1.The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of the mandate, acting under the authority of the HR.                  

2.The PSC shall maintain a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the EUSR's primary point of contact with the Council.                        The PSC shall provide the EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the framework of the mandate, without                        prejudice to the powers of the HR.                  

3.The EUSR shall work in close coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and its relevant departments.                  

## Article 5U.K.Financing

1.The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period from 1 November 2015                        to 28 February 2017 shall be EUR 7 600 000.                  

2.The expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.                        Participation of natural and legal persons in the award of procurement contracts by the EUSR shall be open without limitations.                        Furthermore, no rule of origin for the goods purchased by the EUSR shall apply.                  

3.The management of the expenditure shall be subject to a contract between the EUSR and the Commission. The EUSR shall be accountable                        to the Commission for all expenditure.                  

## Article 6U.K.Constitution and composition of the team

1.A dedicated staff shall be assigned to assist the EUSR to implement the mandate and to contribute to the coherence, visibility                        and effectiveness of Union action in BiH overall. Within the limits of the mandate and the corresponding financial means made                        available, the EUSR shall be responsible for constituting the team. The team shall include members having expertise on specific                        policy issues as required by the mandate. The EUSR shall keep the Council and the Commission promptly informed of the composition                        of the team.                  

2.Member States, institutions of the Union and the EEAS may propose the secondment of staff to work with the EUSR. The salary                        of such seconded personnel shall be covered by the Member State, the institution of the Union concerned or the EEAS, respectively.                        Experts seconded by Member States to the institutions of the Union or the EEAS may also be posted to the EUSR. International                        contracted staff shall have the nationality of a Member State.                  

3.All seconded personnel shall remain under the administrative authority of the sending Member State, institution of the Union                        or the EEAS and shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the mandate of the EUSR.                  

## Article 7U.K.Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and of the EUSR's staff

The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the                     EUSR and the members of the EUSR's staff shall be agreed with the host parties, as appropriate. Member States and the EEAS                     shall grant all necessary support to such effect.                  

## Article 8U.K.Security of EU classified information

The EUSR and the members of the EUSR's team shall respect the security principles and minimum standards established by Council                     Decision 2013/488/EU(2).                  

## Article 9U.K.Access to information and logistical support

1.Member States, the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council shall ensure that the EUSR is given access to any                        relevant information.                  

2.The Union delegations and/or Member States, as appropriate, shall provide logistical support in the region.                  

## Article 10U.K.Security

In accordance with the Union's policy on the security of personnel deployed outside the Union in an operational capacity under                     Title V of the Treaty, the EUSR shall take all reasonably practicable measures, in accordance with the mandate of the EUSR                     and the security situation in the area of responsibility, for the security of all personnel under the direct authority of                     the EUSR, in particular by:                  

establishing a specific security plan based on guidance from the EEAS, including specific physical, organisational and procedural                              security measures, governing the management of the secure movement of personnel to, and within, the area of responsibility,                              as well as the management of security incidents and including a contingency and evacuation plan;                           

ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the Union are covered by high risk insurance as required by the conditions in                              the area of responsibility;                           

ensuring that all members of the EUSR's team to be deployed outside the Union, including locally contracted personnel, have                              received appropriate security training before or upon arriving in the area of responsibility, based on the risk ratings assigned                              to that area by the EEAS;                           

ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following regular security assessments are implemented, and providing the Council,                              the HR and the Commission with written reports on their implementation and on other security issues within the framework of                              the progress and mandate implementation reports.                           

## Article 11U.K.Reporting

The EUSR shall regularly provide the HR and the PSC with oral and written reports. The EUSR shall also report to Council working                     parties as necessary. Regular reports shall be circulated through the COREU network. The EUSR may provide the Foreign Affairs                     Council with reports. In accordance with Article 36 of the Treaty, the EUSR may be involved in briefing the European Parliament.                  

## Article 12U.K.Coordination

1.The EUSR shall contribute to the unity, consistency and effectiveness of the Union's action and shall help ensure that all                        Union instruments and Member States' actions are engaged consistently, to attain the Union's policy objectives. The activities                        of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the Commission, as well as those of other EUSRs active in the region, as appropriate.                        The EUSR shall provide regular briefings to Member States' missions and Union delegations.                  

2.In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with the Heads of Union delegations in the region and Member States' Heads                        of Mission. They shall make every effort to assist the EUSR in the implementation of the mandate. The EUSR shall also liaise                        with international and regional actors in the field, and in particular maintain close coordination with the High Representative                        in BiH.                  

3.In support of Union crisis management operations, the EUSR, with other Union actors present in the field, shall improve the                        dissemination and sharing of information by those Union actors with a view to achieving a high degree of common situation                        awareness and assessment.                  

## Article 13U.K.Assistance in relation to claims

The EUSR and the EUSR's staff shall assist in providing elements to respond to any claims and obligations arising from the                     mandates of the previous EUSRs in BiH, and shall provide administrative assistance and access to relevant files for such purposes.                  

## Article 14U.K.Review

The implementation of this Decision and its consistency with other contributions from the Union to the region shall be kept                     under regular review. The EUSR shall present the Council, the HR and the Commission with a progress report by the end of June 2016                     and a comprehensive mandate implementation report by the end of November 2016.                  

## Article 15U.K.Entry into force

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

It shall apply from 1 November 2015.

Done at Brussels, 10 November 2015.

*For the Council*                            

*The President*                            

P. Gramegna                            

1

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/77 of 19 January 2015 appointing the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina                              (OJ L 13, 20.1.2015, p. 7).                           

2

Council Decision 2013/488/EU of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (OJ L 274, 15.10.2013, p. 1).