98/735/CFSP: Joint Action of 22 December 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in support of the democratic process in Nigeria
Date: 1998-12-22
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU financing, Nigeria, fact-finding mission, observer, parliamentary election, presidential election

30. 12. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 354/1

(Acts adopted pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union)

JOINT ACTION

of 22 December 1998

adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European
Union in support of the democratic process in Nigeria

(98/735/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

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

Article 1

Having regard to the general guidelines contained in the
conclusions adopted by the European Council in Madrid
on 15-16 December 1995,

Whereas on 30 October 1998, the Council adopted, on
the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty, Common Position
98/614/CFSP and issued a declaration concerning
Nigeria, which indicated the EU’s willingness to consider
concrete measures to support the legislative and presiden-
tial elections which will take place in Nigeria on 20 and
27 February 1999 respectively;

Whereas, within the framework of the international effort
coordinated by the United Nations,
the Commission,
acting on behalf of the European Community and its
Member States, has undertaken a number of activities to
provide assistance for the preparation of, and observers
for, the elections, including support to the functioning of
the Nigerian Independent National Election Commission
and assistance to local election monitoring (Transition
Monitoring Group);

Whereas the EU will further contribute to the support for
the election process by deploying an EU contingent of
election observers who will be integrated in the United
Nations overall coordination structure;

1.
The European Union shall deploy a contingent of
100 EU observers to the February 1999 elections in
Nigeria within the framework of
the international
observer mission coordinated by the United Nations.

2.
The Presidency shall appoint an EU spokesperson
who will be responsible for joint EU-UN declarations and
press and public relations.

Article 2

1. An amount of up to EUR 810 000 shall be charged
to the general budget of the European Communities. This
amount is intended to cover the operational expenditure
the EU observer mission in Nigeria and shall be
of
managed by the UN Volunteers under the responsibility
of the Commission.

The salary and related charges of observers desig-
2.
nated by the EU shall be at the charge of the Member
States which provide them.

The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated
3.
in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with
Community procedures and rules applicable to the said
budget.

Article 3

Whereas, in order to guarantee EU visibility and in the
absence of a UN-appointed spokesperson, the Presidency
will appoint an EU spokesperson,

The Council notes that the Commission intends to direct
its action towards achieving the objectives and priorities
of
this Joint Action, where appropriate by pertinent
Community measures.

L 354/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 12. 98

This Joint Action shall come into force on 1 January 1999.

Article 4

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal.

Article 5

Done at Brussels, 22 December 1998.

For the Council

The President

C. EINEM