Council Joint Action 2007/677/CFSP of 15 October 2007 on the European Union military operation in the Republic of Chad and in the Central African Republic
Date: 2007-10-15
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Central African Republic, Chad, common foreign and security policy, forces abroad, military cooperation, peacekeeping, the EU's international role

23.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 279/21

III

(Acts adopted under the EU Treaty)

ACTS ADOPTED UNDER TITLE V OF THE EU TREATY

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2007/677/CFSP

of 15 October 2007

on the European Union military operation in the Republic of Chad and in the Central African
Republic

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in
particular Article 14, the third subparagraph of Article 25 and
Article 28(3) thereof,

Whereas:

The Council further emphasised the regional dimension
of the Darfur crisis and the urgent need to address the
destabilising impact of the crisis on the humanitarian and
security situation in neighbouring countries, and reit-
erated its support for the deployment of a multidimen-
sional UN presence in Eastern Chad and North-Eastern
Central African Republic and indicated its willingness to
consider a EU military bridging operation in support of
such a multidimensional UN presence with a view to
improving security in those areas.

(1)

(2)

In its Resolution 1706 (2006) concerning the situation in
the Darfur region of Sudan, the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) reaffirmed its concern that the ongoing
violence in Darfur might further negatively affect the rest
of the Sudan as well as the region, in particular Chad and
the Central African Republic, and stressed that regional
security aspects must be addressed to achieve long lasting
peace in Darfur. In its Resolution 1769 (2007), which
authorised the establishment of an African Union/United
Nations (AU/UN) Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID),
the UNSC expressed its readiness to support proposals by
the UN General Secretary relating to a possible multi-
dimensional UN presence in Eastern Chad and North-
Eastern Central African Republic with a view to
improving security of civilians in these regions.

In its conclusions of 23 July 2007, the Council reiterated
its commitment to continue to support the efforts of the
AU and the UN to resolve the conflict in the Darfur
region of Sudan both in regard to the political process
aimed at
reaching a comprehensive and sustainable
settlement between the concerned parties in the conflict
and in regard to the AU/UN peacekeeping efforts
an AU/UN Hybrid
the
through
operation in Darfur.
for
ongoing efforts to facilitate humanitarian activities in
Darfur and its readiness to consider further measures,
notably within the UN framework, to ensure humani-
tarian deliveries and protection of civilians.

It underlined its

deployment

support

of

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

In his report of 10 August 2007,
the UN Secretary
General proposed the deployment of a multidimensional
presence, including a possible EU military component, in
Eastern Chad
and North-Eastern Central African
inter alia, aimed at improving the security of
Republic,
refugees and internally displaced persons, facilitating the
delivery
creating
favourable
reconstruction and devel-
conditions
opment efforts in theses regions.

humanitarian
for

assistance

and

of

On 27 August 2007, the President of the UNSC made a
statement on behalf of the Security Council, welcoming
the UN Secretary General’s proposals on a multidimen-
sional presence in the Republic of Chad and the Central
African Republic,
including a possible EU military
deployment.

On 12 September 2007, the Council approved a general
concept
for a possible EU military operation in the
Republic of Chad and in the Central African Republic.

Secretary General/High Representative

(SG/HR)
The
informed the UN Secretary General of
the Decision
taken by the Council in a letter of 17 September 2007.

L 279/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.10.2007

(8)

(9)

The authorities of Chad and the Central African Republic
have welcomed a possible EU military presence in their
respective countries.

United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR)
1778 (2007) of 25 September 2007 approved the estab-
lishment of a UN Mission in the Central African Republic
and Chad (MINURCAT) and authorised the EU to deploy
forces in these countries for a period of 12 months from
the declaration of Initial Operating Capability. Further it
provided for an evaluation of needs within six months
from that date by the EU and the UN in view of follow
on arrangements, including a possible UN operation.

(10) According to Joint Action 2007/108/CFSP (1), the policy
objectives for the mandate of the European Union Special
Representative (EUSR) for Sudan take into due account
regional ramifications of the conflict in Darfur for the
Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic. The
EUSR for Sudan should therefore be mandated to provide
political guidance to the EU Force Commander, inter alia,
to ensure overall coherence with the EU’s
in order
actions towards Sudan/Darfur.

(11)

(12)

The Political and Security Committee (PSC)
should
exercise political control of the EU military operation
in the Republic of Chad and the Central African
Republic, provide it with strategic direction and take
the relevant decisions in accordance with third subpara-
graph of Article 25 of the EU Treaty.

In accordance with Article 28(3) of the EU Treaty, the
operational expenditure arising from this Joint Action,
should be
having military or defence implications,
in accordance with
charged to the Member States
Council Decision 2007/384/CFSP of 14 May 2007 estab-
lishing a mechanism to administer the financing of the
common costs of European Union operations having
military or defence implications (2)
(hereinafter referred
to as ‘ATHENA’).

(13) Article 14(1) of the EU Treaty calls for the indication in
Joint Actions of the means to be made available to the
European Union. The financial reference amount for a
12-month period for the common costs of
the EU
military operation constitutes the best current estimate
and is without prejudice to the final figures that are to
be included in a budget to be approved in accordance
with the rules laid down in ATHENA.

European Union and to the Treaty establishing the
European Community, Denmark does not participate in
the elaboration and implementation of decisions and
actions of the European Union which have defence impli-
cations. Denmark does not participate in the implemen-
tation of this Joint Action and therefore does not parti-
cipate in the financing of the operation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

Mission

The European Union shall conduct a military bridging
1.
operation in the Republic of Chad and in the Central African
Republic, named EUFOR Tchad/RCA,
in accordance with the
mandate set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution
(UNSCR) 1778 (2007).

The forces deployed to that effect

2.
shall operate in
accordance with the political and strategic objectives approved
by the Council on 12 September 2007.

Article 2

Appointment of the EU Operation Commander

Lieutenant General Patrick NASH is hereby appointed EU
Operation Commander.

Article 3

Designation of the EU Operational Headquarters

The EU Operational Headquarters shall be located at Mont
Valérien.

Article 4

Appointment of the EU Force Commander

Brigadier General Jean-Philippe GANASCIA is hereby appointed EU
Force Commander.

(14)

In accordance with Article 6 of
the Protocol on the
position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on

(1) OJ L 46, 16.2.2007, p. 63.
(2) OJ L 152, 13.6.2007, p. 14.

Article 5

Planning and launching of the operation

The Decision on the launching of the EU military operation
shall be adopted by the Council following the approval of the
Operation Plan and the Rules of Engagement.

23.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 279/23

Article 6

Article 9

Political control and strategic direction

1.
Under the responsibility of the Council, the PSC shall
exercise the political control and strategic direction of the EU
military operation. The Council hereby authorises the PSC to
take the relevant decisions in accordance with Article 25 of the
EU Treaty. This authorisation shall include the powers to amend
the planning documents,
the
It shall
Chain of Command and the Rules of Engagement.
also include the powers to take further decisions on the
the EU Operation Commander and/or EU
appointment of
Force Commander. The powers of decision with respect
to
the objectives and termination of the EU military operation
shall remain vested in the Council, assisted by the SG/HR.

including the Operation Plan,

2.

The PSC shall report to the Council at regular intervals.

3.
The PSC shall receive reports from the Chairman of the
European Union Military Committee (CEUMC) regarding the
conduct of the EU military operation, at regular intervals. The
PSC may invite the EU Operation Commander and/or EU Force
Commander to its meetings, as appropriate.

Article 7

Military direction

The EU Military Committee (EUMC) shall monitor the
the EU military operation conducted

1.
proper execution of
under the responsibility of the EU Operation Commander.

2.
The EUMC shall receive reports from the EU Operation
Commander at regular intervals. It may invite the EU Operation
Commander and/or EU Force Commander to its meetings as
necessary.

The CEUMC shall act as the primary point of contact with

3.
the EU Operation Commander.

Relations with the United Nations, the Republic of Chad,
the Central African Republic and other actors

The SG/HR, assisted by the EUSR, shall, in close coordi-
1.
nation with the Presidency, act as a primary point of contact
with the United Nations, the Chadian authorities, the authorities
of the Central African Republic and neighbouring countries, as
well as with other relevant actors.

The EU Operation Commander shall,

in close coordi-
liaise with the Department of Peace-
in the United Nations on issues

2.
nation with the SG/HR,
keeping Operations (DPKO)
relevant to his mission.

The EU Force Commander shall, on issues relevant to his
3.
mission, maintain close contacts with MINURCAT and local
authorities, as well as with other international actors, as appro-
priate.

4. Without prejudice to Article 12 of ATHENA, the SG/HR
and the EU Commanders
into the necessary
arrangements with the United Nations regarding the modalities
for mutual assistance and cooperation.

shall enter

Article 10

Participation of third States

1. Without prejudice to the decision-making autonomy of
the European Union and to the single institutional framework,
and in accordance with the relevant guidelines of the European
Council,
third States may be invited to participate in the
operation.

2.
The Council hereby authorises the PSC to invite third
States to offer a contribution and to take, upon the recommen-
dation of the EU Operation Commander and the EUMC, the
relevant decisions on acceptance of the proposed contributions.

Article 8

Coherence of EU response

1.
The Presidency, the SG/HR, the EUSR, the EU Operation
Commander and the EU Force Commander respectively shall
ensure close coordination of
their respective activities with
respect to the implementation of this Joint Action.

3.
Detailed modalities regarding the participation of third
States shall be the subject of agreements to be concluded in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24 of the
EU Treaty. The SG/HR, assisting the Presidency, may negotiate
such agreements on its behalf. Where the EU and a third State
have concluded an agreement establishing a framework for the
latter’s participation in the EU crisis management operations,
the provisions of
shall apply in the
such an agreement
context of this operation.

2. Without prejudice to the chain of command, the EU Force
Commander
shall consult and take into account political
guidance from the EUSR in particular on issues with a
regional political dimension, except when decisions have to be
taken urgently or when operational security is paramount.

4.
Third States making significant military contributions to
the EU military operation shall have the same rights and obli-
gations in terms of day-to-day management of the operation as
EU Member States taking part in the operation.

L 279/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.10.2007

The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take relevant
5.
decisions on the setting-up of a Committee of Contributors,
should third States provide significant military contributions.

for the purposes of the EU military operation up to the level of
classification relevant respectively for each of
them and in
accordance with the Council Security Regulations.

Article 11

Community action

1.
The Council and the Commission shall ensure, each in
accordance with its respective powers, consistency between
the implementation of this Joint Action and external activities
of the Community,
in accordance with Article 3 of the EU
Treaty. The Council and the Commission shall cooperate to
this end.

Arrangements for the coordination of the EU’s activities in
2.
the Republic of Chad and in the Central African Republic shall
be established as appropriate on the ground as well as in
Brussels.

Article 12

Status of the EU-led forces

The status of the EU-led forces and their personnel, including
the privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for
the fulfilment and smooth functioning of their mission, shall be
agreed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
24 of
the
the EU Treaty. The SG/HR, who shall assist
Presidency, may negotiate such arrangements on its behalf.

Article 13

Financial arrangements

The SG/HR is hereby authorised to release to the United
2.
Nations and to other third parties, associated with this Joint
Action, EU non-classified documents related to the deliberations
of the Council with regard to the operation, covered by the
obligation of professional secrecy pursuant to Article 6(1) of
the Council Rules of Procedure (1).

Article 15

Entry into force and termination

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the date of its

1.
adoption.

2.
The EU military operation shall end no later than 12
months after having reached Initial Operating Capability. The
EU force shall begin recovery at the end of the EU military
operation. During the period of recovery, the EU force may
continue to perform the tasks entrusted to it in accordance
with UNSCR 1778 (2007), within the limits of
its residual
capabilities;
in particular, the chain of command for the EU
military operation shall continue to apply.

the EU force,

This Joint Action shall be repealed following the recovery
3.
of
in accordance with approved termination
planning of the EU military operation, and without prejudice
to the relevant provisions of ATHENA.

The common costs of the EU military operation shall be

1.
administered by ATHENA.

Article 16

The financial reference amount

2.
for the common costs
of the EU military operation shall be EUR 99 200 000. The
percentage of
referred to in Article
33(3) of ATHENA shall be 50 %.

the reference amount

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

Article 14

Done at Luxembourg, 15 October 2007.

Release of information to United Nations and other third
parties

1.
The SG/HR is hereby authorised to release to the United
Nations and to other third parties, associated with this Joint
Action, EU classified information and documents generated

For the Council
The President

L. AMADO

(1) Council Decision 2004/338/EC, Euratom of 22 March 2004
adopting the Council’s Rules of Procedure (OJ L 106, 15.4.2004,
p. 22). Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/34/EC, Euratom
(OJ L 22, 26.1.2006, p. 32).