Council Joint Action 2006/124/CFSP of  20 February 2006  extending the mandate of the Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan
Date: 2006-02-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Afghanistan, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic representation, the EU's international role

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Official Journal of the European Union

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COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2006/124/CFSP

of 20 February 2006

extending the mandate of the Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

3. support

the pivotal role played by the UN, notably the

Special Representative of the Secretary-General; and

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and,
particular, Articles 14, 18(5) and 23(2) thereof,

in

4. support work of the Secretary General/High Representative

(SG/HR) in the region.

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The mandate of the European Union Special Represen-
tative for Afghanistan (EUSR), as set out in Council Joint
Action 2003/871/CFSP (1) expires on 28 February 2006.

On the basis of a review of Joint Action 2003/871/CFSP,
the mandate of the EUSR should be revised and extended
for a 12-month period.

Article 3

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the
EUSR shall be to:

(a) convey the EU’s views on the political process while
drawing on the key principles agreed between Afghanistan
in particular the EU-
and the international community,
Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the Afghanistan Compact;

The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of
a situation which may deteriorate and could harm the
objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy as
set out in Article 11 of the Treaty,

(b) establish and maintain close contact with and give support
to the Afghan representative institutions,
in particular the
government and Parliament. Contact should also be main-
tained with other Afghan political figures and other relevant
players inside as well as outside the country;

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

The mandate of Mr Francesc VENDRELL as the EUSR in Afgha-
nistan is hereby extended until 28 February 2007.

Article 2

The mandate of
objectives of the EU in Afghanistan.
shall:

the EUSR shall be based on the policy
In particular the EUSR

1. contribute to the implementation of

the EU-Afghanistan
Joint Declaration and the Afghanistan Compact as well as
the relevant United Nations (UN) Security Council Reso-
lutions and other relevant UN Resolutions;

2. encourage positive contributions from regional actors in
Afghanistan and from neighbouring countries to the peace
process in Afghanistan and thereby contribute to the conso-
lidation of the Afghan state;

(c) maintain close contact with relevant

international and
regional organisations, notably with the local representatives
of the UN;

(d) stay in close contact with neighbouring and other interested
countries in the region, so that their views on the situation
in Afghanistan and the development of
cooperation
between these countries and Afghanistan are taken into
account in EU policy;

(e) advise on the progress achieved in meeting the objectives of
the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the Afghanistan
Compact, — in particular in the following areas:

— good governance and the establishment of rule of law

institutions,

— security sector

including establishment of
institutions, a national army and police force,

reforms,

judicial

(1) OJ L 326, 13.12.2003, p. 41. Joint Action as last amended by Joint

Action 2005/585/CFSP (OJ L 199, 29.7.2005, p. 96).

— respect for human rights of all Afghan people, regardless

of gender, ethnicity or religion,

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— respect of democratic principles, the rule of law, the
rights of persons belonging to minorities, the rights of
women and children and the principles of international
law,

procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the
European Union with the exception that any pre-financing shall
not remain the property of the Community.

— fostering participation by women in public adminis-

tration and civil society,

3.
The management of the expenditure shall be subject to a
contract between the EUSR and the Commission. Expenditure
shall be eligible as from 1 March 2006.

— respect

for Afghanistan’s

international obligations,
including
to
cooperation in international
combat terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and trafficking
in human beings,

efforts

The Presidency, Commission, and/or Member States, as

4.
appropriate, will provide logistical support in the region.

— facilitation of humanitarian assistance and the orderly
return of refugees and internally displaced persons;

Article 6

(f)

in consultation with representatives of Member States and
the Commission, assist in ensuring that the EU’s political
approach is reflected in its action for the development of
Afghanistan;

1. Within the limits of his mandate and the corresponding
financial means made available, the EUSR is responsible for
constituting his team in consultation with the Presidency,
assisted by the SG/HR, and in full association with the
Commission. The EUSR shall
inform the Presidency and the
Commission of the final composition of his team.

(g)

jointly with the Commission, actively participate in the
Monitoring Mechanism established under the Afghanistan
Compact;

(h) advise on the participation and the positions of the EU in

international conferences on Afghanistan.

2. Member States and institutions of the EU may propose the
secondment of staff to work with the EUSR. The remuneration
of personnel who might be seconded by a Member State or an
institution of the EU to the EUSR shall be covered by the
Member State or the institution of the EU concerned respec-
tively.

Article 4

The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of
1.
the mandate acting under
the authority and operational
direction of the SG/HR. The EUSR shall be accountable to the
Commission for all expenditure.

All A-type posts which are not covered by secondment
3.
will be advertised as appropriate by the General Secretariat of
the Council and also notified to Member States and institutions
of the EU in order to recruit the best-qualified applicants.

2.
The Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall maintain
a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the primary point
of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide strategic
guidance
to the EUSR within the
framework of the mandate.

and political

input

The

privileges,

immunities

4.
guarantees
necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the
mission of the EUSR and the members of his staff shall be
defined with the parties. Member States and the Commission
shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

further

and

Article 5

The financial reference amount

1.
intended to cover the
expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR shall be EUR
1 330 000.

2.
The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in
paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the

Article 7

As a rule, the EUSR will report in person to the SG/HR and to
the PSC and may report also to the relevant Working Group.
Regular written reports will be circulated to the SG/HR, Council
and Commission. The EUSR may report to the General Affairs
and External Relations Council on the recommendation of the
SG/HR and the PSC.

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Article 8

To ensure the consistency of the external action of the EU, the
activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the
SG/HR, the Presidency and the Commission. The EUSR shall
to Member States’ missions and
provide regular briefings
Commission delegations.
In the field, close liaison shall be
maintained with the Presidency, the Commission and Heads
of Mission who shall make best efforts to assist the EUSR in
the implementation of the mandate. The EUSR shall also liaise
with other international and regional actors in the field.

overall priorities for deployment, the SG/HR shall make recom-
mendations to the PSC concerning the Council’s decision on
renewal, amendment or termination of the mandate.

Article 10

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of
adoption. It shall apply as from 1 March 2006.

its

Article 11

Article 9

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

The implementation of this Joint Action and its consistency
with other contributions from the EU to the region shall be
kept under regular review. The EUSR shall present
to the
SG/HR, Council and Commission a progress report before the
end of June 2006 and a comprehensive mandate implemen-
tation report by mid-November 2006. These reports shall
form a basis
Joint Action in the
relevant Working Groups and by the PSC. In the context of

for evaluation of

this

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2006.

For the Council
The President

J. PRÖLL