JOINT ACTION of 9 March 1999 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union concerning a contribution by the European Union to the re-establishment of a viable police force in Albania (1999/189/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles J.3 and J.11(2) thereof,

Having regard to the general guidelines of the European Council of 16 and 17 June 1997,

Whereas the Council adopted on 2 June 1997 a common position on Albania with a view, in particular, to promoting the democratic process and the return to political stability and internal security in Albania;

Whereas in this common position the Union already declared its readiness to contribute to the establishment of a viable police force in Albania within the framework of the Western European Union (WEU) Multinational Advisory Police Element;

Whereas the European Community is providing support to the Albanian police, namely in terms of equipment and rehabilitation of police buildings, in cooperation with the WEU;

Whereas the European Community is also providing assistance to the Albanian authorities in the field of the judiciary, including the prison system, in cooperation with the Council of Europe;

Whereas an additional assistance to the Albanian Government in its tasks to maintain public order needs to be provided,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. The European Union shall contribute to the re-establishment of a viable police force in Albania by ensuring that:

- training and advice to the police, including direct assistance through advisory teams,

- relevant advice to the Ministry of Public Order and other ministries as appropriate

are provided.

The training activity mentioned in the first indent of the previous subparagraph, shall be carried out by up to 160 trainers and shall entail the participation of up to 3 000 Albanian police officers.

2. The European Union will continue to keep other possibilities under review, with a view to fulfilling the objective defined in paragraph 1 to the greatest extent.

Article 2

1. An amount of up to EUR 2,1 million to cover the operational expenditure to which the implementation of this joint action gives rise shall be charged to the general budget of the European Communities.

2. The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be managed in compliance with the European Community procedures and rules applicable to the general budget.

Article 3

1. In order to maximise the effectiveness of the overall assistance, the Presidency shall ensure the coherence of the assistance provided by the European Union on the basis of this joint action with the assistance provided by Member States on the basis of bilateral programmes, aiming at the re-establishment of a viable police force in Albania.

2. The Council notes that the Commission will continue to direct its action towards achieving the objectives of this joint action, where appropriate, by pertinent Community measures.

Article 4

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

Article 5

This joint action shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 9 March 1999.

For the Council

The President

W. RIESTER