95/403/CFSP: Council Decision of 25 September 1995 supplementing Decision 94/276/CFSP on a joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East peace process, concerning the observation of elections to the Palestinian Council and the coordination of the international operation for observing the elections
Date: 1995-09-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU aid, European Union, Palestine question, diplomatic representation, international affairs, organisation of elections













EUR-Lex - 31995D0403 - EN






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31995D0403

95/403/CFSP: Council Decision of 25 September 1995 supplementing Decision 94/276/CFSP on a joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East peace process, concerning the observation of elections to the Palestinian Council and the coordination of the international operation for observing the elections  


Official Journal L 238 , 06/10/1995 P. 0004 - 0007 





COUNCIL DECISIONof 25 September 1995supplementing  Decision 94/276/CFSP on a joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the  Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East peace process, concerning the observation  of elections to the Palestinian Council and the coordination of the international operation for  observing the elections(95/403/CFSP)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles J.3 and J.11 (2)  thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 94/276/CFSP of 19 April 1994 on a joint action adopted by the  Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East  peace process (1), Having regard to Council Decision 95/205/CFSP of 1 June 1995 supplementing Decision 94/267/CFSP  (2), HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1The European Union shall participate in observing the elections to  the Palestinian Council provided for in the Declaration of Principles of 13 September 1993, in  accordance with the agreement to be concluded between the parties concerned on the observation and  coordination of elections. The European Union shall organize the coordination of the observation in  accordance with international rules. It shall be responsible for the financing of this task in  accordance with Article 3 of this Decision. The European Union shall carry out this coordination and observation by two means: 1. it shall take the appropriate measures to organize the coordination with the States and  international organizations concerned; 2. it shall establish a 'European Electoral Unit' in the territories concerned, headed by a  high-ranking figure with a high political profile. The characteristics of this 'European Electoral  Unit' are set out in Annex I. Article 2The European observation mission shall comprise a maximum of 300 observers, 30 of whom  shall be designated by the European Parliament. Article 3All the expenditure incurred for the operation of the European Electoral Unit shall be  charged to the maximum amount of ECU 10 million set in Decision 95/205/CFSP. The expenses incurred by the participation of European Union observers shall also be charged to  that amount, with the exception of the cost of their journeys to and from the territories concerned  and insurance costs which shall be borne respectively by the Member States or institutions which  designated them. The expenditure shall be administered in accordance with the Community's budgetary rules and  procedures. The European Court of Auditors shall be invited to audit the accounts of the European  Electoral Unit. The guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the observers  and of the members of the European Electoral Unit shall be defined with the parties. Article 4The Member States and the Commission shall present the list of observers and the  candidatures of the persons wishing to participate in the European Electoral Unit. The Presidency, in full association with the Commission and with the assistance of an advisory  coordination group, composed of representatives of the Member States, shall draw up the list of  observers and of members of the European Electoral Unit. Article 5The Presidency, in full association with the Commission and assisted by the advisory  group referred to in the second paragraph of Article 4, shall define the guidelines and take the  measures required to ensure that this Decision is followed up, in liaison with the European  Electoral Unit, in those areas which concern it. Article 6This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption. Article 7This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal. Done at Brussels, 25 September 1995. For the CouncilThe PresidentJ. A. BELLOCH JULBE(1) OJ No L 119, 7. 5. 1994,  p. 1. (2) OJ No L 130, 14. 6. 1995, p. 1. ANNEX I OBJECTIVES, COMPOSITION AND OPERATION OF THE EUROPEAN ELECTORAL UNIT 1. The  members of the European Electoral Unit shall be selected as soon as possible. They shall travel to  their destination and the Unit shall be established at the start of the electoral round. It shall  be wound up one month after the end of the electoral process. 2. The European Electoral Unit shall coordinate from the start of the electoral round the European  Union's support for the elections. It shall exercise the role of coordinating all the observer  missions. It shall work in close liaison with the Palestinian authorities and, as regards certain  questions defined by mutual agreement by the Palestinians and Israelis, shall work with the  latter. 3. The function of the European Electoral Unit shall be to: - ensure that the European Union is present and carrying out its role of observer, - supply the Palestinian authorities, at their request, with information, opinions and advice, - consult the other parties involved in the observation operation and to coordinate the deployment  of all the observers as part of its coordination mission. 4. The European Electoral Unit shall be headed by a high-ranking figure with a high political  profile. It shall be composed on the basis of the organizational chart shown in Annex II. 5. The members of the European Electoral Unit must be available and shall be under contract  throughout the period planned for the existence of the Unit. 6. The Head of the European Electoral Unit, the Deputy Head and, as necessary, other members of the  European Electoral Unit may be required to undertake preparatory work, before the establishment of  the European Electoral Unit, in connection with the European Union's participation in observing  elections to the Palestinian Council and its coordination of the international observation  operation. They will be remunerated accordingly for such preparatory work. 7. The European Electoral Unit may propose to recruit extra local technical staff for a limited  period. 8. The head of the European Electoral Unit is invited to attend the joint meetings of the  consuls-general in Jesusalem and the representations of the Member States in the Palestinian  Autonomous Areas in accordance with detailed arrangements to be adopted by the Member States. The  European Electoral Unit must have operational independence, but is shall remain in close liaison  with the representatives of the Member States and the Commission on the spot. 9. The European Electoral Unit shall report back to the Presidency on a regular basis on progress  in implementing the various aspects, including financial, of this Decision and any difficulties  which it encounters in its task. It shall periodically forward an assessment of the development of  the electoral process. At the close of its task it shall draw up a final assessment report for the  Council on the electoral process and the implementation of this Decision. ANNEX II Draft organizational chart EUROPEAN UNION ELECTORAL UNIT (35 people) Head  of Electoral Unit Deputy 1. Central Office (three branches); total staff forecasted: 21  peopleOperational branchLegal adviser (1)Election organization adviser (1)Media adviser  (1)Voter education adviser (1)Survey and analysis adviser (1)Computer operators (2)Technical  support branchLogistics and communication adviser (1)Personnel, training and liaison adviser  (1)Security advisers (2)Press Officer (1)Administration and finance adviser (1)International  observation coordinationCoordinators (8)2. Regional Offices (4); total staff forecasted: 12  peopleGazaRegional coordinator (1)Deputy (1)Security adviser (1)JerichoRegional coordinator  (1)Deputy (1)Security adviser (1)BethlehemRegional coordinator (1)Deputy (1)Security adviser  (1)NablusRegional coordinator (1)Deputy (1)Security adviser (1)