Agreement between the European Union and the Government of Latvia on the participation of the Republic of Latvia in the European Union-led forces (EUF) in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Date: 2003-10-17
Institutions: European Union, Latvia
Subjects: EU military mission, Latvia, North Macedonia, agreement (EU), forces abroad, military cooperation

28.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 313/79

between the European Union and the Government of Latvia on the participation of the Republic
of Latvia in the European Union-led forces (EUF) in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

AGREEMENT

THE EUROPEAN UNION,

on the one hand, and

THE GOVERNMENT OF LATVIA,

on the other hand,

hereinafter referred to as the ‘Parties’,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT:

— the adoption by the Council of the European Union of Joint Action 2003/92/CFSP of 27 January 2003 on the Euro-

pean Union military operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,

— the invitation to the Republic of Latvia to participate in the EU-led operation,

— the successful completion of the Force Generation process and the recommendation by the Operation Commander
and the EU Military Committee to agree on the participation of the Republic of Latvia forces in the EU-led opera-
tion,

— the decision by the Political and Security Committee of 11 March 2003 to accept the contribution of the Republic

of Latvia to the EU-led operation,

— the Exchange of Letters between the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Secretary-

General/High Representative on the conduct of the Operation,

— the Agreement concluded on 21 March 2003 between the EU and the Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic

of Macedonia on the status of the EUF and its personnel,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Framework and definitions

The Government of Latvia shall associate itself with the
1.
provisions of the Joint Action 2003/92/CFSP on the European
Union force in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
adopted by the Council of the European Union on 27 January
2003,
in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the
following Articles.

(e) ‘Participating Parties’ means Member States applying the
Joint Action referred to in paragraph 1 above and third
in the Operation Concordia by
States participating
providing forces, personnel or assets;

(f) ‘Claims Joint Commission’ means the Joint Claims Commis-
the Agreement
sion set up pursuant
between the European Union and the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia on the status of
the European
Union-led forces in the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace-
donia.

to Article 13 of

For the purpose of this Agreement, the following defini-

2.
tions shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them:

Article 2

(a) ‘Operation Concordia’ means the European Union military
operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
provided for in the Council
Joint Action 2003/92/CFSP
dated 27 January 2003;

(b) ‘European Union-led forces’ (EUF) means EU military head-
quarters, constituent national units/elements contributing
to the Operation Concordia, their assets and their means of
transport;

(c) ‘EUF personnel’ means the civilian and military personnel

assigned to EUF;

(d) ‘mechanism’ means the operational financing mechanism
established by Council Decision dated 27 January 2003 to
provide for the financing of the common costs of the Euro-
pean Union military operation in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia;

Participation in the Operation

The Republic of Latvia shall participate in the Operation
1.
Concordia with a contingent as determined on the occasion of
the Force Generation Conference.
If necessary, rotation of
seconded personnel shall be ensured.

2.
The Government of Latvia shall ensure that its forces and
personnel undertake their mission in conformity with the
provisions of the Joint Action 2003/92/CFSP, the Operation
Plan and implementing measures.

3.
The Government of Latvia shall inform the EU Operation
Commander, the EU Force Commander and the EU military
staff of any change to its participation in the Operation
Concordia.

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Article 3

Status

Council's security regulations, which are contained in Council
Decision 2001/264/EC of 19 March 2001 (1), and further
guidance that may be issued by the Operation Commander.

1.
The forces and personnel participating in the Operation
Concordia shall be governed by the Agreement between the
European Union and FYROM on the status of the European
Union-led forces in FYROM and its implementing arrange-
ments.

2.
The status of personnel contributed to headquarters or
command elements located outside FYROM shall be governed
by arrangements between the headquarters and command
elements concerned and the Government of Latvia.

Article 4

Chain of command

1.
The participation of the Republic of Latvia in the Opera-
tion Concordia is without prejudice to the decision-making
autonomy of the European Union.

All

2.
command of their national authorities.

forces and personnel shall remain under the full

National authorities

transfer operational control
3.
(OPCON) to the EU Operation Commander. The Operation
Commander is entitled to delegate his authority.

shall

The Republic of Latvia shall have the same rights and
4.
obligations in terms of day-to-day management of the Opera-
tion Concordia as participating Member States in accordance
with Article 8(4) of the Joint Action 2003/92/CFSP and the
PSC Decision FYROM/01/03 on the establishment of
the
Committee of Contributors.

The Republic of Latvia shall exercise jurisdiction over its
5.
personnel. The Operation Commander
Force
Commander may at any time request the withdrawal of the
Republic of Latvia personnel.

and

the

6.
A senior military representative (SMR) shall be appointed
by the Government of Latvia to represent its national contin-
gent in EUF. The SMR shall consult the EU Force Commander
on all matters affecting the Operation Concordia and shall be
responsible for day-to-day contingent discipline.

Article 5

Classified information

The Government of Latvia shall take appropriate measures to
ensure that, when EU classified information is handled by its
the European Union
personnel,

this personnel

respects

Article 6

Financial aspects

1. Without prejudice to Article 7, the Government of Latvia
shall assume all the costs associated with its participation in
Operation Concordia unless the costs are subject to common
funding as set out in the operational budget of the operation.

2.
In case the Joint Claims Commission decides to grant
damages to natural or legal persons from FYROM, the Govern-
ment of Latvia shall pay for these damages if death,
injury,
damage or loss are caused by its personnel or its assets, unless
the mechanism, in accordance with Article 9(3) of the Council
Decision establishing the mechanism, decides to pay for those
damages.

Article 7

Contributions to the common costs

1.
The Government of Latvia shall contribute to the
common costs of the Operation an amount of EUR 19 220
per six months.

2.
An arrangement shall be concluded between the adminis-
trator of the mechanism, established by the Council Decision of
27 January 2003, to provide for the financing of the common
costs of the operation and competent administrative authorities
of the Government of Latvia. This arrangement shall include
provisions on:

(a) the arrangements for payment and management of the

financial contribution;

(b) the verification arrangements covering control and audit of

the financial contribution, where appropriate.

3.
The contributions of the Government of Latvia to the
common costs of the Operation Concordia shall be deposited
by the Government of Latvia in the bank account which shall
the
be indicated to that State by the administrator of
mechanism.

Article 8

Non-compliance

Should one of the Participating Parties fail to comply with its
obligations laid down in the previous Articles, the other Party
shall have the right to terminate this agreement by serving a
one-month notice.

(1) OJ L 101, 11.4.2001, p. 1.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Article 9

Entry into force

This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature. It shall remain in force for the duration of the contri-
bution of the Republic of Latvia to the Operation.

Written amendments to this Agreement may be agreed at any time.

Done at Brussels,

2003, in the English language in four copies.

For the European Union

For the Government of Latvia