COUNCIL COMMON POSITION

of 19 July 1999

concerning support for the popular consultation of the East Timorese people

(1999/479/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 15 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The Governments of Indonesia and Portugal concluded an agreement on 5 May 1999, based on the right to self-determination, regarding the arrangements for the popular consultation of the East Timorese people through a direct ballot on the acceptance or rejection of a constitutional framework for autonomy, with rejection leading to the independence of East Timor;

(2) The European Council meeting in Cologne on 3 and 4 June 1999 warmly welcomed the signing of the New York Agreements on East Timor and reaffirmed its support for the proposals of the United Nations Secretary-General on setting up a United Nations Mission in East Timor to organise the consultation process of the East Timorese people and to ensure the orderly transition to wide-ranging autonomy or independence following the completion of the consultation process;

(3) Within the framework of the international effort coordinated by the United Nations, the European Community and its Member States have undertaken a number of activities to provide assistance for the organisation of the consultation process and humanitarian assistance to the East Timorese people;

(4) The European Council meeting in Cologne invited the Council to consider the possibility of sending out a European observation team to East Timor in accordance with the provisions of the agreement on the arrangements for the consultation process;

(5) On 21 May 1999 the Council urged the Commission to provide a timely and substantial financial contribution to the United Nations Trust Fund established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1236 (1999),

HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

1. The aim of this Common Position is to contribute to achieving a just and lasting settlement to the issue of East Timor based on the principle of self-determination in accordance with the Resolutions of the United Nations and with Common Position 96/407/CFSP(1).

2. The Union considers that the popular consultation of the East Timorese people through a direct, secret and universal ballot organised by the United Nations represents the best opportunity for lasting stability in East Timor and emphasises the need for a visible European Union presence during that consultation process.

Article 2

The Council welcomes the intention of a number of Member States to send observers to form a European Union observation team to the consultation process which is being organised by the United Nations.

Article 3

The Council notes that the Presidency has designated Mr David Andrews as its personal representative for these matters, who will be responsible, in particular, for the statements of the European Union Presidency.

Article 4

The Council notes that the Commission has directed its action towards achieving the objective of this Common Position, where appropriate by pertinent Community measures.

Article 5

This Common Position shall take effect on the day of its adoption.

It shall expire on 30 September 1999.

Article 6

This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 19 July 1999.

For the Council

The President

T. HALONEN

(1) OJ L 168, 6.7.1996, p. 2.