2005/16/EC: Council Decision of 22 December 2004 amending Decision 2003/631/EC adopting measures concerning Liberia under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement in a case of special urgency
Date: 2004-12-22
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Liberia, agreement (EU), cooperation policy, democratisation, establishment of peace, human rights, the EU's international role

L 8/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

12.1.2005

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 22 December 2004

amending Decision 2003/631/EC adopting measures concerning Liberia under Article 96 of the
ACP-EC Partnership Agreement in a case of special urgency

(2005/16/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, which
entered into force on 1 April 2003, and in particular Article
96 thereof,

the governments of

Having regard to the Internal agreement between the represen-
tatives of
the Member States, meeting
within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures
to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Part-
nership Agreement (1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Council Decision 2002/274/EC of 25 March 2002
concluding consultations with Liberia under Articles 96
the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (2),
and 97 of
provides for the adoption of the appropriate measures
within the meaning of Article 96(2)(c) and of Article
97(3) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement.

Council Decision 2003/631/EC of 25 August 2003
adopting measures concerning Liberia under Article 96
of the EC-ACP Partnership Agreement in a case of special
urgency (3), provides for the adoption of new appropriate
measures within the meaning of Article 96(2)(c) and of
Article 97(3) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement.

(3)

(4)

The current conditions in Liberia do not yet ensure
respect
for democratic principles, governance and the
rule of law.

It is consequently necessary to extend the validity period
of the measures provided for in Decision 2003/631/EC
and to continue the intensive political dialogue with the
Government of Liberia,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The measures referred to in Article 1 of Decision 2003/631/EC
shall expire on 30 June 2006. This date does not preclude any
specific expiry date contained in the financial
instruments
covered by this Decision.

The letter appearing in the Annex to this Decision shall be
addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

Article 2

The outcome of the consultations, as set out in the draft letter
annexed to Decision 2002/274/EC, shall remain unaffected.

(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 376.
(2) OJ L 96, 13.4.2002, p. 23.
(3) OJ L 220, 3.9.2003, p. 3.

Article 3

This Decision shall take effect on the day of its adoption.

12.1.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 8/13

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 22 December 2004.

For the Council
The President

C. VEERMAN

ANNEX

DRAFT LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF LIBERIA

HE Mr Thomas Nimely Yaya
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Monrovia
Liberia

Dear Minister,

With its letter reference SGS3/7429 of 27 August 2003, the European Union informed the government of Liberia of its
intentions to accompany the Liberian peace process on the basis of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The letter also
stipulated that the European Union would closely follow the political development and transitional reform in your
country and continue the intensive political dialogue on the basis of Article 8 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement
and the outcome of the consultations as set out in our letter reference SGS 272745 of 27 March 2002.

More than a year has passed since the National Transitional Government of Liberia took office following the signing of
the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement in August 2003. It is now time to take stock of progress in the implemen-
tation of the comprehensive peace agreement and the undertakings that resulted from the aforementioned consultations.

The European Union is pleased to note at this juncture that security and calm have returned to the country and that some
initial steps to introduce democratic change and to reform the functioning of the public sector have been made. Serious
concerns remain, however, over public finance and macro-economic management by the National Transitional
Government of Liberia and the State-owned enterprises, and over the increasing level of corruption. Furthermore, the
commissions created under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement have to date shown insufficient progress in the imple-
mentation of their mandates to improve governance and accountability. Further steps in addressing human rights issues
are also required.

In the light of the above, the European Union considers that the National Transitional Government of Liberia is not fully
functional and operational and the appropriate measures can therefore not yet be completely revoked. This will be done
once a democratically elected and accountable President and government have been installed.

For this reason, the European Union has decided that Council Decision 2003/631/EC of 25 August 2003 shall be
extended for a period of 18 months. During this period our intensive political dialogue should continue, on the basis of
Article 8 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement and on the basis of the outcome of the consultations as set out in our
letter reference SGS 272745 of 27 March 2002, with a view to continue improving respect for human rights, democracy,
rule of law, and good governance. The dialogue shall involve the Presidency of the European Union and the European
Commission and include six-monthly political reviews.

Meanwhile, on the basis of the appropriate measures defined in Council Decision 2003/631/EC of 25 August 2003,
support for the peace process and the Results Focused Transitional Framework shall continue.

Yours faithfully,

For the Commission

For the Council