EN Official Journal of the European Union L 43/34

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/133/CFSP

of 18 February 2008

amending and extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East peace process

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Articles 14, 18(5) and 23(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 15 February 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action 2007/110/CFSP extending and amending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East peace process (1) until 29 February 2008.

(2) On 6 December 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action 2007/806/CFSP amending Joint Action 2005/797/CFSP on the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) (2), and Joint Action 2007/807/CFSP amending Joint Action 2005/889/CFSP on establishing a European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EU BAM Rafah) (3), to reflect the new command and control structure for EU civilian crisis management operations as approved by the Council on 18 June 2007.

(3) On the basis of a review of Joint Action 2007/110/CFSP, the mandate of the EUSR should be amended and extended for a 12-month period. The mandate of the EUSR should also be adjusted to the role he has been assigned in relation to EUPOL COPPS and EU BAM Rafah in line with the new command and control structure for EU civilian crisis management operations.

(4) The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could harm the Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives set out in Article 11 of the Treaty,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Marc OTTE as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East peace process is hereby extended until 28 February 2009.

Article 2

Policy objectives

1. The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the policy objectives of the European Union regarding the Middle East peace process.

2. These objectives include:

(a) a two-State solution with Israel and a democratic, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours in accordance with United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1402 (2002) and the principles of the Madrid conference;

(b) solution in the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks;

(c) a fair solution to the complex issue of Jerusalem and a just, viable and agreed solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees;

(d) following-up of the Annapolis process towards a final status agreement and the creation of a Palestinian state including strengthening the role of the Quartet as guardian of the roadmap particularly in view of monitoring the implementation of obligations both parties have under the roadmap and in line with all international efforts to bring about a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace;

(e) the establishment of sustainable and effective policing arrangements under Palestinian ownership in accordance with best international standards, in cooperation with the European Community's institution building programmes as well as other international efforts in the wider context of Security Sector, including Criminal Justice Reform;

(f) reopening of the Gaza crossing points including the Rafah crossing and providing a third party presence if agreed by both parties, in cooperation with the Community's institution building efforts.

3. These objectives are based on the European Union's commitment to:

(a) work with the parties and with partners in the international community, especially within the framework of the Middle East Quartet, to pursue every opportunity for peace and for a decent future for all people of the region;

(b) continue to assist in Palestinian political and administrative reforms, the electoral process and security reforms;

(c) contribute fully to peace building, as well as to the recovery of the Palestinian economy as an integral part of regional development.

4. The EUSR shall support the work of the Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR) in the region, including in the framework of the Middle East Quartet.

Article 3

Mandate

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:

(a) provide an active and efficient contribution from the European Union to actions and initiatives leading to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and of the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese conflicts;

(b) facilitate and maintain close contact with all the parties to the Middle East peace process, other countries of the region, members of the Middle East Quartet and other relevant countries, as well as the UN and other relevant international organisations, in order to work with them in strengthening the peace process;

(c) ensure continued presence of the European Union on the ground and in relevant international fora and contribute to crisis management and prevention;

(d) observe and support peace negotiations between the parties and offer the European Union's advice and good offices as appropriate;

(e) contribute, where requested, to the implementation of international agreements reached between the parties and engage with them diplomatically in the event of non-compliance with the terms of these agreements;

(f) pay particular attention to factors having implication for the regional dimension of the Middle East peace process;

(g) engage constructively with signatories to agreements within the framework of the peace process in order to promote compliance with the basic norms of democracy, including respect for human rights and the rule of law;

(h) contribute to the implementation of the European Union human rights policy and European Union Guidelines on Human Rights, in particular with regard to children and women in conflict affected areas, especially by monitoring and addressing developments in this regard;

(i) report on the possibilities for European Union intervention in the peace process and on the best way of pursuing European Union initiatives and ongoing Middle East peace process-related European Union efforts, such as the contribution of the European Union to Palestinian reforms, and including the political aspects of relevant European Union development projects;

(j) monitor actions by either side on the implementation of the roadmap and on issues that might prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations to enable the Middle East Quartet to better assess the parties' compliance;

(k) engage in wider collaboration on Security Sector Reform in cooperation with the European Commission and the US Security Coordinator and facilitate cooperation on security issues with all relevant actors;

(l) contribute to a better understanding of the role of the European Union among opinion leaders in the region.

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

1. The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of the mandate acting under the authority and operational direction of the Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR).

2. The Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall maintain a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the primary point of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide the EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the framework of the mandate.

Article 5

Financing

1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period from 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009 shall be EUR 1 300 000.

2. The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be eligible as from 1 March 2008. The expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the European Communities with the exception that any pre-financing shall not remain the property of the Community.

3. The management of the expenditure shall be subject to a contract between the EUSR and the Commission. The EUSR shall be accountable to the Commission for all expenditure.

Article 6

Constitution and composition of the team

1. Within the limits of his mandate and the corresponding financial means made available, the EUSR shall be responsible for constituting his team in consultation with the Presidency, assisted by the SG/HR, and in full association with the Commission. The team shall include the expertise on specific policy issues as required by the mandate. The EUSR shall keep the SG/HR, the Presidency and the Commission informed of the composition of his team.

2. Member States and institutions of the European Union may propose the secondment of staff to work with the EUSR. The salary of personnel who are seconded by a Member State or an institution of the EU to the EUSR shall be covered by the Member State or the institution of the EU concerned respectively. Experts seconded by Member States to the General Secretariat of the Council may also be posted to the EUSR. International contracted staff shall have the nationality of an EU Member State.

3. All seconded personnel shall remain under the administrative authority of the sending Member State or EU institution and shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the mandate of the EUSR.

Article 7

Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and his staff

The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the EUSR and the members of his staff shall be agreed with the host party/parties as appropriate. Member States and the Commission shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

Article 8

Security of EU classified information

The EUSR and the members of his team shall respect security principles and minimum standards established by Council Decision 2001/264/EC of 19 March 2001 adopting the Council's security regulations (4), in particular when managing EU classified information.

Article 9

Access to information and logistical support

1. Member States, the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council shall ensure that the EUSR is given access to any relevant information.

2. The Presidency, the Commission and/or Member States, as appropriate, shall provide logistical support in the region.

Article 10

Security

In accordance with the EU's policy on the security of personnel deployed outside the EU in an operational capacity under Title V of the Treaty, the EUSR shall take all reasonably practicable measures, in conformity with his mandate and the security situation in his geographical area of responsibility, for the security of all personnel under his direct authority, notably by:

(a) establishing a mission-specific security plan based on guidance from the General Secretariat of the Council, including mission-specific physical, organisational and procedural security measures, governing management of the secure movement of personnel to, and within, the mission area, as well as management of security incidents and including a mission contingency and evacuation plan;

(b) ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the EU are covered by high risk insurance as required by the conditions in the mission area;

(c) ensuring that all members of his team to be deployed outside the EU, including locally contracted personnel, have received appropriate security training before or upon arriving in the mission area, based on the risk ratings assigned to the mission area by the General Secretariat of the Council;

(d) ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following regular security assessments are implemented and providing the SG/HR, the Council and the Commission with written reports on their implementation and on other security issues within the framework of the mid-term and mandate implementation reports.

Article 11

Reporting

The EUSR shall regularly provide the SG/HR and the PSC with oral and written reports. The EUSR shall also report as necessary to working groups. Regular written reports shall be circulated through the COREU network. Upon recommendation of the SG/HR or the PSC, the EUSR may provide the General Affairs and External Relations Council with reports.

Article 12

Coordination

1. The EUSR shall promote overall EU political coordination. He shall help to ensure that all EU instruments in the field are engaged coherently to attain the EU's policy objectives. The activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the Presidency and the Commission, as well as those of other EUSRs active in the region as appropriate. The EUSR shall provide Member States' missions and Commission's delegations with regular briefings.

2. In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with Presidency, Commission and Member States' Heads of Mission who shall make best efforts to assist the EUSR in the implementation of the mandate. The EUSR shall provide the Heads of the missions EUPOL COPPS and EU BAM Rafah with local political guidance. The EUSR and the Civilian Operation Commander shall consult each other as required. The EUSR shall also liaise with other international and regional actors in the field.

Article 13

Review

The implementation of this Joint Action and its consistency with other contributions from the European Union to the region shall be kept under regular review. The EUSR shall present the SG/HR, the Council and the Commission with a progress report before the end of June 2008 and a comprehensive mandate implementation report by mid-November 2008. These reports shall form a basis for evaluation of this Joint Action in the relevant working groups and by the PSC. In the context of overall priorities for deployment, the SG/HR shall make recommendations to the PSC concerning the Council's decision on renewal, amendment or termination of the mandate.

Article 14

Entry into force

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Article 15

Publication

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 2008. For the Council The President D. RUPEL

(1) OJ L 46, 16.2.2007, p. 71.

(2) OJ L 323, 8.12.2007, p. 50.

(3) OJ L 323, 8.12.2007, p. 53.

(4) OJ L 101, 11.4.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision 2007/438/EC (OJ L 164, 26.6.2007, p. 24).