Council Common Position of 29 January 2001 concerning European Union support for the implementation of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement and the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo and repealing Common Position 1999/728/CFSP
Date: 2001-01-29
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Democratic Republic of the Congo, cease-fire, cooperation policy, peacekeeping, the EU's international role

31.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 29/1

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

COUNCIL COMMON POSITION

of 29 January 2001

concerning European Union support for the implementation of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement
and the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo and repealing Common Position
1999/728/CFSP

(2001/83/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(7)

Common Position 1999/728/CFSP shall be repealed,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in partic-
ular Article 15 thereof,

Having regard to Council Common Position 1999/728/CFSP of
15 November 1999 concerning EU support for the imple-
mentation of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement and the peace
process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1), and in partic-
ular Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

The European Council in Amsterdam on 16 and 17 June
1997 adopted conclusions
the process
towards democracy in the Democratic Republic of
Congo.

regarding

On 9 November 1998 and 22 May 2000 the Council
adopted conclusions on the situation in the Great Lakes
Region.

The Council has adopted Common Position 97/356/
CFSP of 2 June 1997 concerning conflict prevention and
resolution in Africa (2) and Common Position 98/350/
CFSP of 25 May 1998 on human rights, democratic
law and good governance in
principles,
Africa (3).

the rule of

The signing of
the Lusaka cease-fire agreement was
completed on 31 August 1999 by all parties involved,
i.e. the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia,
Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the ‘Mouvement pour la
Libération du Congo’ and the ‘Rassemblement Congolais
pour la Démocratie’.

In accordance with the declarations of the Presidency on
behalf of the European Union of 9 and 16 July, 3 and
22 September, 11 October and 26 November 1999, 12
April and 22 September 2000, the Union pledged its
support to the implementation of the Lusaka agreement
provided that the parties respect and implement the
agreement in accordance with the terms set out therein.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted
Resolutions 1234(1999), 1258(1999), 1291(2000),
1304(2000) and 1332(2000).

(1) OJ L 294, 16.11.1999, p. 2.
(2) OJ L 153, 11.6.1997, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 158, 2.6.1998, p. 1.

HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION:

Article 1

The objective of the Common Position is to support through
action by the European Union and its Member States the
implementation of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement and the
process towards peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC).

The European Union affirms that lasting peace in the DRC can
be achieved only through a negotiated peace settlement which
is fair to all parties, through respect for the territorial integrity
and national sovereignty of the DRC and for democratic princi-
ples and human rights in all States of the region, and by taking
account of the security interest of the DRC and its neigh-
bouring countries.

Once peace is restored the European Union is ready to consider
long-term cooperation in support of national reconstruction.

Article 2

The European Union will support action taken by the United
Nations and the Organisation for African Unity in support of
the implementation of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement and the
peace process, and cooperate closely with these organisations
and other relevant actors of the international Community in
the implementation of this Common Position.

Article 3

The European Union will continue to support the Joint Military
its tasks as specified in its
Commission to allow it to fulfil
Rules of Procedure.

Article 4

The European Union will further support a process of reconci-
liation and democratisation in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, including support for the national dialogue, in accord-
ance with the objectives and arrangements specified in the
Lusaka cease-fire agreement.

L 29/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

31.1.2001

Article 5

The Council notes that the Commission intends to direct its
action towards achieving the objectives of this Common posi-
tion, where appropriate, by pertinent Community measures,
promoting in particular restoration of the democratic institu-
tions and respect for human rights, democracy, good govern-
ance and the rule of law. Consideration will also be given to
supporting the reintegration of refugees and displaced people
and the demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants.

Article 6

In its cooperation with the countries involved in the conflict in
the Democratic Republic of Congo, the European Union will
promote support for activities which contribute to political
stability and the alleviation of economic and social problems
which contribute to instability in the Great Lakes region.

Article 7

The European Union will consider supporting the concept of
and possible preparations for an international conference on
peace, security, democracy and development in the Great Lakes
region in order to enhance political stability, conflict manage-
ment and resolution capacities, and economic integration in
the region, as soon as the most important elements of the
Lusaka agreement have been implemented.

Article 8

The European Union and its Member States reserve the right to
modify or cancel any activities in support of the implementa-

tion of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement, if the parties do not
abide by the terms of the agreement.

Article 9

Common Position 1999/728/CFSP shall be repealed.

Article 10

The implementation of this Common Position will be moni-
tored regularly. The Common Position will be reviewed before
29 January 2002.

Article 11

This Common Position shall take effect on the day of
adoption.

its

Article 12

This Common Position shall be published in the Official
Journal.

Done at Brussels, 29 January 2001.

For the Council

The President

M. WINBERG