Council Joint Action 2006/121/CFSP of  20 February 2006  appointing the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Date: 2006-02-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Caucasus countries, appointment of staff, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic representation, the EU's international role

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Official Journal of the European Union

21.2.2006

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2006/121/CFSP

of 20 February 2006

appointing the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

(a)

to assist Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in carrying out
political and economic reforms, notably in the fields of rule
of law, democratisation, human rights, good governance,
development and poverty reduction;

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

for the South Caucasus, as set out

The mandate of the European Union Special Represen-
tative (EUSR)
in
Joint Action 2003/872/CFSP of 8 December
Council
2003 extending and amending the mandate of
the
Special Representative of the European Union for the
South Caucasus (1),
is due to expire on 28 February
2006.

the
On the basis of a review of
mandate of the EUSR should be revised and extended
for a 12-month period.

Joint Action,

that

Following the departure of EUSR Talvitie, the Secretary-
General/High Representative (SG/HR) has recommended
to appoint Mr Peter Semneby as the new EUSR for the
South Caucasus.

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

Mr Peter SEMNEBY is hereby appointed European Union Special
Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus as of 1 March
2006 until 28 February 2007.

Article 2

(b) in accordance with existing mechanisms,

conflicts
settlement of conflicts,
return of refugees and internally displaced persons;

to prevent
to contribute to the peaceful
including through promoting the

in the region,

(c)

to engage
concerning the region;

constructively with main interested actors

(d) to encourage and to support further cooperation between
States of the region, in particular between the States of the
South Caucasus,
energy and
transport issues;

including on economic,

(e)

to enhance the effectiveness and visibility of the European
Union in the region.

The EUSR shall support the work of the SG/HR in the

2.
region.

Article 3

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

(a) develop contacts with governments, parliaments,

judiciary

and civil society in the region;

(b) encourage Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to cooperate
on regional themes of common interest, such as common
security threats, the fight against terrorism, trafficking and
organised crime;

1.
The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the policy
objectives of the European Union in the South Caucasus. These
objectives include:

(1) OJ L 326, 13.12.2003, p. 44. Joint Action as last amended and
extended by Joint Action 2005/582/CFSP (OJ L 199, 29.7.2005,
p. 92).

(c) contribute to the prevention of conflicts and to assist in
for progress on settlement of
creating the conditions
conflicts,
including through recommendations for action
related to civil society and rehabilitation of the territories
without prejudice to the Commission’s responsibilities under
the EC Treaty;

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(d) contribute to the settlement of conflicts and to facilitate the
implementation of such settlement in close coordination
with the United Nations Secretary-General and his Special
Representative for Georgia, the Group of Friends of the
United Nations Secretary-General for Georgia, the Organi-
sation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its Minsk
Group, and the conflict resolution mechanism for South
Ossetia;

(e)

intensify the European Union’s dialogue with the main
interested actors concerning the region;

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

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.

(f) assist the Council

in further developing a comprehensive

policy towards the South Caucasus;

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

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

(g) through a support team:

Article 6

— provide the European Union with reporting and a
continued assessment of the border situation and to
facilitate confidence-building between Georgia and the
Russian Federation,
thereby ensuring efficient coop-
eration and liaison with all relevant actors,

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.

— assist

the Georgian Border Guard and other relevant
in preparing a
in Tbilisi

institutions

government
comprehensive reform strategy,

— work with the Georgian authorities to increase commu-
nication between Tbilisi and the border,
including
mentoring. This shall be done by working closely with
Regional Border Guard Centres between Tbilisi and the
border (excluding Abkhazia and South Ossetia).

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.

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

Article 5

1.
The financial reference amount
expenditure related to the mandate of
EUR 2 960 000.

intended to cover the
the EUSR shall be

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.

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
in order to recruit the best-qualified applicants.

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 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 including on activities of the support
SG/HR, Council
team shall be
and
circulated to the
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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Official Journal of the European Union

21.2.2006

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.

Article 9

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

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

Article 10

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

its

It shall apply as from 1 March 2006.

Article 11

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

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2006.

For the Council
The President

J. PRÖLL