COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2020/434

of 23 March 2020

amending Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM 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 17 January 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/34/CFSP (1) concerning a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali).

(2) On 14 May 2018, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2018/716 (2) by which it adapted and extended the mandate of EUTM Mali and laid down a financial reference amount for the period from 19 May 2018 to 18 May 2020.

(3) In its Resolutions 2391 (2017) and 2480 (2019), the UN Security Council affirmed its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel), namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, commended the contribution of bilateral and multilateral partners to strengthen security capacities in the Sahel region, notably the role of the European Union missions (EUTM Mali, EUCAP Sahel Mali and EUCAP Sahel Niger) in providing training and strategic advice to national security forces in the Sahel region, welcomed the efforts of the French forces to support the operations of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, and called for adequate coordination, exchange of information and, when applicable, support between MINUSMA, the Malian Armed Forces, the G5 Sahel Joint force, the French Forces and the European Union missions in Mali.

(4) Following the Strategic Review of the Mission, the Political and Security Committee recommended that the mandate of EUTM Mali be amended and extended until 18 May 2024 and that an Interim Strategic Review be carried out at the latest after two years.

(5) It is also necessary to lay down the financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to EUTM Mali for the period from 19 May 2020 until 18 May 2024.

(6) Decision 2013/34/CFSP should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP is amended as follows: (1) Article 1 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 1 Mission 1. The Union shall conduct a military training mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) in order to assist the Malian Armed Forces (MAF) in restoring their military capacity with a view to enabling them to conduct military operations aiming at restoring Malian territorial integrity and reducing the threat posed by terrorist groups, and to provide military assistance to the G5 Sahel Joint Force as well as national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries. EUTM Mali shall not be involved in combat operations. 2. The strategic objectives of EUTM Mali shall be to: (a) contribute to improving the operational capacity of the MAF under the control of Mali’s legitimate civilian authorities; (b) support the G5 Sahel through making the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries operational. 3. For the purpose of the objective referred to in point (a) of paragraph 2, EUTM Mali shall provide the MAF with military advice, training, including pre-deployment training, education and mentoring, through non-executive accompaniment up to the tactical level, in order for EUTM Mali to be able to follow up on the activities of the MAF and to monitor its performance and behaviour, including with regard to the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. 4. For the purpose of the objective referred to in point (b) of paragraph 2, EUTM Mali shall provide the G5 Sahel Joint Force and national armed forces in the G5 Sahel countries with military advice, training and mentoring, through non-executive accompaniment up to the tactical level. 5. EUTM Mali shall follow a gradual and modular approach for activities outside Mali in support of the G5 Sahel. 6. The activities of EUTM Mali shall be conducted in close coordination and cooperation between Member States and Union institutions and bodies, in line with the EU’s Integrated Approach, and with other actors involved in the support to the MAF, in particular the United Nations (UN), the Barkhane operation and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to enhance coherence of actions, ensure deconfliction and suitably optimise resources to best effect, with due respect for the Union institutional framework. Those activities shall be supported by the Regional Advisory and Coordination Cell (RACC) in EUCAP Sahel Mali.’; (2) in Article 10, the following paragraph is added: ‘3. The financial reference amount for the common costs of EUTM Mali for the period from 19 May 2020 to 18 May 2024 shall be EUR 133 711 059. The percentage of the reference amount referred to in Article 25(1) of Decision (CFSP) 2015/528 shall be 15 % for commitments and 0 % for payments.’; (3) in Article 12, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: ‘2. The mandate of EUTM Mali shall end on 18 May 2024.’.

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

Done at Brussels, 23 March 2020. For the Council The President A. METELKO-ZGOMBIĆ

(1) Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP of 17 January 2013 on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali) (OJ L 14, 18.1.2013, p. 19).

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/716 of 14 May 2018 amending and extending Decision 2013/34/CFSP on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali) (OJ L 120, 16.5.2018, p. 8).