EN

Brussels, 3.10.2007

COM(2007) 563 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the appointment of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact

for South-Eastern Europe

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (SP) is a regional policy framework set up by the international community in Cologne on 10 June 1999 in order to support the countries in that region in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity, and to achieve stability in the region as a whole. Paragraph 13 of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe stipulates that the Stability Pact will have a Special Coordinator appointed by the European Union, after consultation with the OSCE Chairman in Office and other participants, and endorsed by the OSCE Chairman in Office.

Further to Article 1.a of Council Regulation (EC) No 1080/2000 of 22 May 2000 on support for the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (OHR) and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (SP), the Council, acting on a proposal by the Commission, appoints the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact on a yearly basis.

The Regional Table of the Stability Pact endorsed in Belgrade on 30 May 2006 a transition plan in view of the phasing out of the Stability Pact by early 2008 and the corresponding transfer of ownership for regional cooperation to a regional framework to be based on the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and led by the countries of the region themselves. The mandate of the Special Coordinator for 2007 has focused on the implementation of the transformation process. The Stability Pact on the one side, and the countries of the region of South-East Europe, on the other side, cooperating in the framework of the SEECP, assisted by the Commission and other partners, have been working on the establishment of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the definition of its relationship with the SEECP.

During the Regional Table of the Stability Pact on 10 May 2007 and the SEECP Summit in Zagreb on 11 May 2007, the main texts relating to the RCC were agreed upon. The SEECP Summit appointed the first Secretary General of the RCC and selected the seat for its Secretariat. These decisions have been welcomed by the Council, which reconfirmed the European Union’s readiness to remain involved, together with other donors and partners, in the forthcoming implementation of the phased evolution of the Stability Pact into the Regional Cooperation Council.

Until the end of 2007, it is expected that the main preparatory tasks related to the establishment of the Secretariat will be completed. The Commission has provided modest additional support of the order of €100,000 to the Stability Pact in order to fully cover all the administrative tasks related to its transformation, including the setting up of the RCC Secretariat. The hand-over from the Stability Pact to the RCC is expected to take place by the end of February 2008. A period of overlapping between the Stability Pact and the RCC of a maximum of 3 months is foreseen, during which the Stability Pact will provide coaching and transfer of know-how to the RCC. In order to match the timeline of the transition plan, it is proposed that the mandate of the Special Coordinator is extended for the period from January to June 2008.

It is therefore proposed for the Council to adopt, before 31 December 2007, a decision on the re-appointment of Dr Busek as Special Coordinator, which will apply from 1 January 2008 until 30 June 2008. The Commission has consulted the OSCE Chairman in Office and other participants in the Stability Pact and proposes that the Council reappoints Dr Erhard Busek as Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact. The mandate of the Special Coordinator is drawn from the one laid down in Council Decision (EC) No 2006/921 of 11 December 2006 on the appointment of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe for the year 2007 with a special emphasis on the hand-over to the Regional Cooperation Council and coaching of the Secretary General of the RCC.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the appointment of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact

for South-Eastern Europe

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1080/2000 of 22 May 2000 on support for the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (OHR) and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (SP) [1], and in particular Article 1a thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 10 June 1999 the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union and the Commission of the European Communities, together with the other participants in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, agreed to establish a Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, hereinafter called the ‘Stability Pact’.

(2) Article 1a of Council Regulation (EC) No 1080/2000 provides for the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact to be appointed on an annual basis.

(3) It is necessary to establish, together with the appointment, a mandate for the Special Coordinator. The mandate laid down in Council Decision 2006/921/EC of 11 December 2006 on the appointment of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe [2] for 2006 is appropriate. Further to the conclusions of the Stability Pact’s Regional Table held in Zagreb on 10 May 2007, the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Ministerial and Summit meetings held on 10 and 11 May 2007, as well as the Council Conclusions of May 2007 calling upon the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact, the new Secretary General and the Bulgarian SEECP Chairmanship in Office to ensure a smooth and timely final hand-over from the Stability pact to the new structures, this mandate includes a special emphasis on the requirements of the transition to regional ownership and the need to ensure a smooth and timely hand-over to the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) until the end of the mandate.

(4) It is appropriate to lay down clear lines of responsibility as well as guidance on coordination and reporting,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Dr Erhard BUSEK is hereby appointed Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.

Article 2

The Special Coordinator shall carry out the functions provided for in point 13 of the Stability Pact of 10 June 1999.

Article 3

In order to achieve the objective referred to in Article 2, the mandate of the Special Coordinator shall be to:

(a) promote achievement of the Pact's objectives within, and between, the individual countries, where the Pact proves to have an added value;

(b) chair the South-Eastern Europe Regional Table;

(c) maintain close contact with all participants and facilitating States, organisations and institutions of the Stability Pact, as well as relevant regional initiatives and organisations, with a view to fostering regional cooperation and enhancing regional ownership;

(d) cooperate closely with all institutions of the European Union and with its Member States in order to promote the role of the European Union in the Pact in accordance with points 18, 19, and 20 of the Stability Pact and to ensure complementarity between the work of the Stability Pact and the Stabilisation and Association Process;

(e) meet periodically and collectively as appropriate with the Chairs of the Working Tables to ensure strategic overall coordination and act as the secretariat of the South-Eastern Europe Regional Table and its instruments;

(f) work on the basis of a list, agreed in advance and in consultation with the participants in the Stability Pact, of priority actions for the Stability Pact to implement in the first half of 2008, and adjust the working methods and structures of the Stability Pact to the needs of the transition to regional ownership, ensuring consistency and efficient use of resources;

(g) facilitate the implementation of the transition to regional ownership in accordance to the conclusions of the Regional Table on 30 May 2006 and to this purpose work closely with the South East European Cooperation Process, the Regional Cooperation Council and its Secretary General; particular attention shall be given to the establishment of the Regional Cooperation Council and of its secretariat; special emphasis shall be put on the streamlining of the various Task Forces and initiatives of the Stability Pact;

(h) ensure a smooth and timely hand-over to the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council and the closing down of remaining administrative operations of the Stability Pact.

Article 4

The Special Coordinator shall conclude a financing agreement with the Commission.

Article 5

The activities of the Special Coordinator shall be coordinated with those of the Secretary General of the Council/High Representative for the CFSP, the Presidency of the Council and the Commission, notably in the framework of the Informal Consultative Committee. In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with the Presidency of the Council, the Commission, the Member States’ Heads of Mission, the Special Representatives of the European Union, as well as with the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations Civil Administration in Kosovo.

Article 6

The Special Coordinator shall report, as appropriate, to the Council and the Commission. He will continue to inform the European Parliament regularly about his activities.

Article 7

This Decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2008 until 30 June 2008.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

[1] OJ L 122, 24.5.2000, p.27. Regulation as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2098/2003 of 27 November 2003 (OJ L 316, 29.11.2003, p.1).

[2] OJ L 351, 13.12.2006, p.19.

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