JOINT ACTION of 30 April 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning support for the electoral process in Bosnia and Herzegovina (98/302/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the conclusions of the Dublin European Council on 13 and 14 December 1996, and of the Amsterdam European Council on 16 and 17 June 1997,

Whereas national elections are due to take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12-13 September 1998;

Whereas the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) decided on 5 and 12 March 1998 that the OSCE would supervise these elections;

Whereas the Union has consistently contributed to the OSCE supervision activities for all elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) pursuant to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and intends to continue to play an active role to this effect;

Whereas EU Member States are the main contributors to the OSCE budget for the supervision of national elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the OSCE scale for 'large missions and projects`,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

This joint action aims at further strengthening the support already provided by the Union to the activities carried out by the OSCE pursuant to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In particular, this joint action aims at providing EU support in addition to that already provided through the contribution to the OSCE budget for the supervision of national elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the OSCE scale for 'large missions and projects`, which provides for a contribution by EU Member States representing 67 % of the total.

Article 2

1. The additional support referred to in Article 1 shall take the form of an EU contribution towards OSCE supervision. This shall include a voluntary contribution towards OSCE Project No G-7 (Supervision Personnel) (2), through the provision of a team of EU supervisors tasked with overseeing the electoral process including voter registration, polling and counting (Section 1, 2, 3 and 4 of No G-7), under the aegis of the OSCE, as well as towards OSCE Project No G-16 (Media Centre).

2. EU long-term supervisors shall stay in the region for a period of up to 208 days. EU medium-term supervisors shall stay in the region for a period of 34 to 38 days. EU short-term supervisors shall stay for a period of 11 to 18 days.

Article 3

1. In order to cover the costs involved in realising the activities mentioned in Article 2, a maximum of ECU 5 million shall be charged to the general budget of the European Communities for 1998.

2. Of the amount mentioned in paragraph 1, a sum of up to ECU 4,92 million will be earmarked for a voluntary contribution in order to co-finance up to 40 % of the total cost of the OSCE project No G-7, sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, and for the transport costs of EU supervisors from Member States' capitals to Vienna and their return. This, taking into account the Member States' own contributions, will allow the Union to finance the vast majority of the supervision activities. The exact amount will be calculated on the basis of the definitive list of EU supervisors.

3. Of the amount mentioned in paragraph 1, a sum of up to ECU 80 000 will be earmarked for a voluntary contribution towards OSCE project No G-16 (Media Centre), notably with a view to ensuring EU visibility.

4. The expenditure financed from the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be managed in compliance with the Community's budgetary procedures and rules.

Article 4

The Council shall review the implementation of this joint action.

Article 5

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

Article 6

This joint action shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Luxembourg, 30 April 1998.

For the Council

The President

T. JOWELL

(1) Joint Action 96/406/CFSP (OJ L 168, 6.7.1996, p. 1), as amended by Council Decision 97/153/CFSP (OJ L 63, 4.3.1997, p. 1), and supplemented by Council Decision 97/224/CFSP (OJ L 90, 4.4.1997, p. 1) and Council Decision 97/689/CFSP (OJ L 293, 27.10.1997, p. 1).

(2) Decision No 224 of the OSCE Permanent Council of 8 April 1998.