Official Journal of the European Union

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/96

of 10 January 2023

amending Decision 2014/219/CFSP on the European Union CSDP Mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali)

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 15 April 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/219/CFSP on the European Union CSDP Mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) (1).

(2) On 7 January 2021, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/14 (2), which extended EUCAP Sahel Mali until 31 January 2023 and amended its mandate.

(3) In the context of the Holistic Strategic Review of EUTM Mali and EUCAP Sahel Mali, on 1 June 2022, the Political and Security Committee recommended that EUCAP Sahel Mali be extended until 31 January 2025 and, on 30 June 2022, that its mandate be adjusted to the political and security situation in Mali.

(4) Decision 2014/219/CFSP should be amended accordingly.

(5) EUCAP Sahel Mali 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 2014/219/CFSP is amended as follows: (1) Article 2 is amended as follows: (a) in paragraph 2, point (d) is replaced by the following: ‘(d) facilitating the redeployment of the ISF to the centre of Mali, if the Political and Security Committee decides that conditions are met, and facilitating the deployment of the ISF to the South of Mali, focusing on the National Police; and’; (b) a new paragraph is inserted: ‘2a. EUCAP Sahel Mali shall support the strategic communication efforts to foster Union values, promote Union action and expose violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by foreign forces in Mali.’ (2) in Article 14(1), the following subparagraph is added: ‘The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to EUCAP Sahel Mali between 1 February 2023 and 31 January 2025 shall be EUR 73 196 375,74.’; (3) in Article 17, paragraph 1a is replaced by the following: ‘1a. The HR shall be authorised to release to the Union Justice and Home Affairs Agencies, in particular to FRONTEX and EUROPOL, EU classified information, including documents, generated for the purposes of EUCAP Sahel Mali up to the relevant level of classification for each of them respectively, in accordance with Decision 2013/488/EU. Technical arrangements shall be drawn up for that purpose.’ (4) in Article 18, the second sentence is replaced by the following: ‘It shall apply until 31 January 2025.’.

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

Done at Brussels, 10 January 2023. For the Council The President J. ROSWALL

(1) Council Decision 2014/219/CFSP of 15 April 2014 on the European Union CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) (OJ L 113, 16.4.2014, p. 21).

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/14 of 7 January 2021 amending Decision 2014/219/CFSP on the European Union CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) (OJ L 5, 8.1.2021, p. 16).