Official Journal of the European Union

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/1505

of 9 September 2022

amending Decision 2012/392/CFSP on the European Union CSDP mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 42(4) and Article 43(2) thereof,

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

Whereas:

(1) On 16 July 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/392/CFSP (1) establishing a European Union CSDP mission in Niger to support the capacity building of the Nigerien security actors to fight terrorism and organised crime (EUCAP Sahel Niger).

(2) On 7 September 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1254 (2) and extended the Mission until 30 September 2022.

(3) On 15 June 2022, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) examined the Strategic Review of the Mission and agreed to extend EUCAP Sahel Niger until 30 September 2024. On 28 June 2022, when closing the Strategic Review of the Mission, PSC furthermore agreed inter alia that the Mission should be able to exchange EU classified information with the Union Justice and Home Affairs agencies, in the framework of its mandate.

(4) Decision 2012/392/CFSP should be amended accordingly.

(5) EUCAP Sahel Niger will be conducted 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 on European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Decision 2012/392/CFSP is amended as follows: (1) in Article 3, paragraph 4 is replaced and a new paragraph is added, as follows: ‘4. EUCAP Sahel Niger shall develop and implement, in close coordination with the Union’s delegation in Niamey, a communication strategy to foster EU values and promote EU action in the Sahel, in particular in Niger. 5. EUCAP Sahel Niger shall not carry-out any executive function.’; (2) in Article 13(1), the following subparagraph is added: ‘The financial reference amount to cover the expenditure related to EUCAP Sahel Niger for the period from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2024 shall be EUR 72 161 381,16.’; (3) in Article 14, the following paragraph is added: ‘4. The Head of Mission shall cooperate with other CSDP Missions, in particular with EUCAP Sahel Mali, including the Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell, and with EUBAM Libya.’; (4) in Article 15, paragraph 4 is replaced, and a new paragraph is added, as follows: ‘4. The High Representative shall be authorised to release to the Union Justice and Home Affairs agencies, in particular to Frontex and Europol, EU classified information generated for the purposes of EUCAP Sahel Niger up to the relevant level of classification respectively for each of them, in accordance with Decision 2013/488/EU. Technical arrangements shall be drawn up for that purpose. 5. The High Representative may delegate the powers referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4, as well as the ability to conclude the arrangements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4, to persons placed under his/her authority, to the Civilian Operation Commander and/or to the Head of Mission.’; (5) in Article 16, the second sentence is replaced by the following: ‘It shall apply until 30 September 2024.’.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 9 September 2022. For the Council The President J. SÍKELA

(1) Council Decision 2012/392/CFSP of 16 July 2012 on the European Union CSDP mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger) (OJ L 187, 17.7.2012, p. 48).

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1254 of 7 September 2020 amending Decision 2012/392/CFSP on the European Union CSDP mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger) (OJ L 294, 8.9.2020, p. 3).