Council Joint Action of 20 July 2000 regarding a contribution of the European Union towards reinforcing the capacity of the Georgian authorities to support and protect the OSCE Observer Mission on the border of the Republic of Georgia with the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation
Date: 2000-07-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Eurostat, Georgia, USSR, fact-finding mission, frontier region, international security

22.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 183/3

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION

of 20 July 2000

regarding a contribution of the European Union towards reinforcing the capacity of the Georgian
authorities to support and protect the OSCE Observer Mission on the border of the Republic of
Georgia with the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation

(2000/456/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in partic-
ular Article 14 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

the

The Helsinki European Council expressed its deep
concern at
in
the
Chechnya poses to the stability of the Caucasus region
and possible spillover from the fighting in Chechnya to
Georgia and the effects on her territorial

continuing conflict

integrity.

threat

On 10 April 2000, President Shevardnadze of Georgia
the European Union to
requested the assistance of
contribute to Georgia's efforts to ensure the protection
of its borders and neighbouring regions and to improve
protection against terrorist threats, in particular against
the OSCE Observer Mission on the Georgian border
with the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation.

The OSCE Observer Mission contributes to stability in
the region by providing detailed information on the
traffic and events around the border in order to diffuse
possible tensions.

the Presidency of

From 17 to 22 June 2000, General Sir Garry Johnson, as
a representative of
the European
Union, carried out an assessment mission on the spot
and concluded that there is a clear need for equipment
to permit the Georgian Border Guards to perform their
duties effectively,
the
OSCE Observer Mission.

in particular the protection of

There is a need to implement this Joint Action rapidly.

The Commission has agreed to be entrusted with certain
tasks necessary for the implementation of
this Joint
Action,

of equipment which shall be transported to the Shatili border
post by 30 September 2000.

Article 2

The Council shall entrust

1.
the Commission with the
implementation of this Joint Action with a view to meeting the
objective specified in Article 1(2).

2.
The Commission shall monitor and evaluate the effective
delivery of the equipment to the Georgian Border Guards, its
further use and the successful
implementation of this Joint
Action.

3.
The Commission shall report to the Council under the
authority of the Presidency assisted by the Secretary-General of
the Council, High Representative for the CFSP.

In carrying out its activities, the Commission will coop-
4.
erate, as appropriate, with local missions of Member States.

Article 3

The financial reference amount for the purposes referred

1.
to in Article 1 shall be EUR 1 million.

The management of

2.
the expenditure financed by the
amount specified in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the proced-
ures and rules of the Community applying to budget matters.

Article 4

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of its

1.
adoption. It shall expire on 31 December 2000.

2.
This Joint Action shall be reviewed by 30 September
2000 in order to ensure the respect of the timetable set out in
Article 1(2).

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 5

Article 1

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal.

The European Union shall provide assistance to reinforce
1.
the capacity of the Georgian authorities to provide, through
their Border Guards, support and protection for the OSCE
Observer Mission on the border of Georgia with the Chechen
Republic of the Russian Federation.

2.
For this purpose, the European Union shall provide aid to
the Government of Georgia by 15 September 2000 in the form

Done at Brussels, 20 July 2000.

For the Council

The President

F. PARLY