Council Joint Action 2006/122/CFSP of  20 February 2006  extending the mandate of the Special Representative of the European Union for the African Great Lakes Region
Date: 2006-02-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: East Africa, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic representation, the EU's international role

21.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 49/17

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2006/122/CFSP

of 20 February 2006

extending the mandate of the Special Representative of the European Union for the African Great
Lakes Region

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(b) particular attention to the regional dimension of the devel-

opments in those countries;

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

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

as

set

the Special Representative of

the
The mandate of
for the African Great Lakes
European Union (EUSR)
Region,
Joint Action
in
out
2003/869/CFSP of 8 December 2003 amending and
extending the mandate of the Special Representative of
the European Union for
the African Great Lakes
Region (1), is due to expire on 28 February 2006.

Council

On the basis of a review of Joint Action 2003/869/CFSP,
the EUSR should be extended for a
the mandate of
12-month period.

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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

The mandate of Mr Aldo AJELLO as the European Union Special
Representative (EUSR) for the African Great Lakes Region is
hereby extended until 28 February 2007.

Article 2

The mandate of
the EUSR shall be based on the policy
objectives of the European Union regarding the peace and tran-
sition process in the African Great Lakes Region.

These objectives include:

(a) active and efficient contribution of the European Union to a
final settlement of the transition in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) and to political and economic devel-
opments in Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda;

(1) OJ L 326, 13.12.2003, p. 37. Joint Action as last extended and
amended by Joint Action 2005/586/CFSP (OJ L 199, 29.7.2005,
p. 97).

(c) ensurance of the continued presence of the European Union
on the ground and in relevant international fora, staying in
and contribution to crisis
touch with key players
management;

(d) contribution to a consistent, sustainable and responsible
policy of the European Union in the African Great Lakes
Region.

The EUSR shall support the work of the Secretary-General/High
Representative (SG/HR) in the region.

Article 3

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

(a) establish and maintain close contact with all the Parties to
the peace and transition process in the African Great Lakes
Region, other countries of the region, the United States of
America, other relevant countries, as well as the United
Nations (UN) and other relevant international organisations,
the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organisations and
their representatives as well as other prominent regional
leaders in order to work with them in strengthening the
peace processes and peace agreements in the Region;

(b) observe the peace and transition processes between the
parties and offer the European Union’s advice and good
offices as appropriate;

(c) contribute, where requested, to the implementation of peace
and cease fire agreements reached between the parties and
engage with them diplomatically in the event of non-
compliance with the terms of these agreements;

(d) engage constructively with signatories to agreements within
the framework of the peace processes in order to promote
compliance with the basic norms of democracy and good
governance, including respect for human rights and the rule
of law;

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Official Journal of the European Union

21.2.2006

(e) contribute to the implementation of the EU Guidelines on

Children and Armed Conflict;

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.

(f) contribute to and cooperate with the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General of the UN for the Great Lakes
Region and the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the
AU on the preparation of a conference on peace, security,
democracy and development in the Great Lakes Region;

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.

(g) report on the possibilities for European Union support to
the peace and transition process and on the best way of
pursuing European Union initiatives;

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

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

(h) monitor actions by the parties to the conflicts, which might
prejudice the outcome of the ongoing peace processes;

Article 6

(i) contribute to a better understanding of

the European

Union’s role among opinion leaders in the region;

(j) provide advice and assistance, as required, for security sector
reform in the DRC, in particular give political guidance to
the Heads of the EU Police Mission (EUPOL Kinshasa) and
of the EU Mission advising and assisting the Congolese
authorities
reform (EUSEC RD
Congo), in order to fulfil their duties at local level.

in the security sector

Article 4

1. Within the limits of his/her mandate and the corre-
the EUSR is
sponding financial means made
responsible for constituting his/her 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.

available,

2. Member States and institutions of the European Union
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 European Union to the
EUSR shall be covered by the Member State or the institution of
the European Union concerned respectively.

1.
The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of
the authority and operational
the mandate acting under
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.
shall be advertised as appropriate by the General Secretariat of
the Council and also notified to Member States and institutions
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
to the EUSR within the
guidance
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

1.
The financial reference amount
expenditure related to the mandate of
EUR 820 000.

intended to cover the
the EUSR shall be

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 shall report in person to the SG/HR and to
the PSC and may report also to the relevant Working Group.
Regular written reports shall be circulated to the SG/HR, the
Council and the Commission. The EUSR may report to the
General Affairs and External Relations Council on the recom-
mendation of the SG/HR and the PSC.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Article 8

the external action of

To ensure the consistency of
the
European Union, the activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated
with those of the SG/HR, the Presidency and the Commission.
The EUSR shall provide regular briefings to Member States’
missions and 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.

make recommendations to the PSC concerning the Council’s
decision on renewal,
the
amendment or
mandate.

termination of

Article 10

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of
adoption.

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 European Union to the
region shall be kept under regular review. The EUSR shall
to the SG/HR, Council and Commission a progress
present
report before the end of
June 2006 and a comprehensive
mandate
implementation report by mid-November 2006.
These reports shall form a basis for evaluation of this Joint
Action in the relevant working groups and by the PSC. In the
context of overall priorities for deployment, the SG/HR shall

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2006.

For the Council
The President

J. PRÖLL