POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2020/1010

of 2 July 2020

on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2019/264 (BiH/29/2020)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004 on the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to take relevant decisions on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander.

(2) On 8 October 2018, the PSC decided in principle that the Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) should be appointed as EU Operation Commander as of 29 March 2019, subject to NATO confirming his availability.

(3) On 7 December 2018, the North Atlantic Council confirmed the availability of the Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE to assume the role of EU Operation Commander under the ‘Berlin plus’ Arrangements, as of 29 March 2019.

(4) On 7 February 2019, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2019/264 (2) appointing the Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE Lieutenant General Olivier RITTIMANN as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as of 29 March 2019.

(5) On 15 May 2020, NATO decided to appoint Major General Brice HOUDET as Vice-Chief of Staff at SHAPE, replacing Lieutenant General Olivier RITTIMANN as of 18 July 2020. Major General Brice HOUDET should also replace, as from that date, Lieutenant General Olivier RITTIMANN in his capacity as EU Operation Commander of the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(6) On 26 May 2020, the European Union Military Committee agreed to recommend the nomination of Major General Brice HOUDET as EU Operation Commander of the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as from 18 July 2020.

(7) Decision (CFSP) 2019/264 should therefore be repealed.

(8) In accordance with Article 5 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and the implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications.

(9) On 12 and 13 December 2002, the Copenhagen European Council adopted a declaration stating that the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those Member States of the Union which are also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace’, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Major General Brice HOUDET, Vice-Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), is hereby appointed to succeed Lieutenant General Olivier RITTIMANN as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina as of 18 July 2020.

Article 2 Decision (CFSP) 2019/264 is hereby repealed.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on 18 July 2020.

Done at Brussels, 2 July 2020. For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson S. FROM-EMMESBERGER

(1) OJ L 252, 28.7.2004, p. 10.

(2) Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2019/264 of 7 February 2019 on the appointment of the EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2017/464 (BiH/27/2019) (OJ L 44, 15.2.2019, p. 12).