Council Joint Action 2008/107/CFSP of 12 February 2008 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia
Date: 2008-02-12
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Central Asia, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic representation, the EU's international role

13.2.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

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COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/107/CFSP

of 12 February 2008

extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(c) contributing to strengthening democracy, the rule of law,
good governance and respect for human rights and funda-
mental freedoms in Central Asia;

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

Whereas:

(d) addressing key threats, especially specific problems with

direct implications for Europe;

(1)

(2)

(3)

On 15 February 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action
2007/113/CFSP (1) amending and extending the mandate
of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for
Central Asia.

(e) enhancing the European Union's effectiveness and visibility
in the region, including through a closer coordination with
other relevant partners and international organisations, such
as the OSCE.

On the basis of a review of Joint Action 2007/113/CFSP,
the mandate of
the EUSR should be extended for a
12-month period.

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

Article 3

Mandate

In order to achieve the policy objectives,

1.
mandate shall be to:

the EUSR's

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Pierre MOREL as the European Union
Special Representative (EUSR)
for Central Asia is hereby
extended until 28 February 2009.

Article 2

Policy objectives

(a) promote overall political coordination of

Union in Central Asia and ensure consistency of
external actions of
without prejudice to Community competence;

the European
the
the European Union in the region

his mandate,

the High Representative and in
(b) monitor, on behalf of
the
accordance with
Commission and the Presidency, and without prejudice to
Community competence, the implementation process of the
EU Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia, make
recommendations and report to relevant Council bodies on
a regular basis;

together with

The EUSR's mandate shall be based on the Union's policy
objectives in Central Asia. These objectives include:

(c) assist the Council

in further developing a comprehensive

policy towards Central Asia;

(a) promoting good and close relations between countries of
Central Asia and the European Union on the basis of
common values and interests as
in relevant
agreements;

set out

(b) contributing to strengthening the stability and cooperation

between the countries in the region;

(1) OJ L 46, 16.2.2007, p. 83. Joint Action as amended by Joint Action

2007/634/CFSP (OJ L 256, 2.10.2007, p. 28).

(d) follow closely political developments in Central Asia by
contacts with
judiciary, civil society and mass

and maintaining

developing
governments, parliaments,
media;

close

(e) encourage Kazakhstan,

the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to cooperate on regional
issues of common interest;

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13.2.2008

(f) develop appropriate contacts and cooperation with the main
interested actors in the region, and all relevant regional and
including the Shanghai Coo-
international organisations,
the Eurasian Economic
peration Organisation (SCO),
the Conference on Interaction
Community (EURASEC),
and Confidence-Building Measures
the
Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the Central
Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC) and
the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination
Centre (CARICC);

in Asia (CICA),

(g) contribute to the implementation of the European Union
human rights policy and European Union Guidelines on
Human Rights,
in particular with regard to women and
children in conflict-affected areas, especially by monitoring
and addressing developments in this regard;

(h) contribute, in close cooperation with the OSCE, to conflict
prevention and resolution by developing contacts with the
authorities and other local actors (NGOs, political parties,
minorities, religious groups and their leaders);

(i) provide input to the formulation of energy security aspects
to

the CFSP with respect

and anti-narcotics aspects of
Central Asia.

2.
The EUSR shall support the work of the Secretary-Gene-
ral/High Representative (SG/HR) and maintain an overview of all
activities of the European Union in the region.

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of
the authority and operational

1.
the mandate acting under
direction of the SG/HR.

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

Article 5

Financing

The financial reference amount

1.
intended to cover the
expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period
from 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009 shall be EUR
1 100 000.

2.
The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in
paragraph 1 shall be eligible as from 1 March 2008. The expen-
diture shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and

rules applicable to the general budget of the European Commu-
nities 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. The EUSR
shall be accountable to the Commission for all expenditure.

Article 6

Constitution and composition of the team

1. Within the limits of his mandate and the corresponding
financial means made available, the EUSR shall be responsible
for constituting his team in consultation with the Presidency,
assisted by the SG/HR, and in full association with the
include the expertise on specific
Commission. The team shall
policy issues as required by the mandate. The EUSR shall keep
the SG/HR, the Presidency and the Commission informed of the
composition of his team.

2. Member States and institutions of the European Union
may propose the secondment of staff to work with the EUSR.
The salary of personnel who are 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. Experts seconded by Member States to the General Secre-
tariat of the Council may also be posted to the EUSR. Interna-
tional contracted staff shall have the nationality of an EU
Member State.

All seconded personnel shall remain under the adminis-
3.
trative authority of the sending Member State or EU institution
and shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the
mandate of the EUSR.

Article 7

Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and his staff

The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for
the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the
EUSR and the members of his staff shall be agreed with the host
party/parties
the
appropriate. Member
Commission shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

States

and

as

Article 8

Security of EU classified information

The EUSR and the members of his team shall respect security
principles and minimum standards established by Council
Decision 2001/264/EC of 19 March 2001 adopting the
Council's security regulations (1), in particular when managing
EU classified information.

(1) OJ L 101, 11.4.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision

2007/438/EC (OJ L 164, 26.6.2007, p. 24).

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Article 9

Access to information and logistical support

1. Member States, the Commission and the General Secre-
tariat of the Council shall ensure that the EUSR is given access
to any relevant information.

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

2.
appropriate, shall provide logistical support in the region.

Article 10

Security

In accordance with the EU's policy on the security of personnel
deployed outside the EU in an operational capacity under Title
V of the Treaty, the EUSR shall take all reasonably practicable
in conformity with his mandate and the security
measures,
situation in his geographical area of responsibility,
for the
security of all personnel under his direct authority, notably by:

(a) establishing a mission-specific

security plan based on
the Council,
guidance from the General Secretariat of
and
including mission-specific physical, organisational
procedural security measures, governing management of
the secure movement of personnel
the
mission area, as well as management of security incidents
and including a mission contingency and evacuation plan;

to, and within,

(b) ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the EU are
covered by high risk insurance as required by the conditions
in the mission area;

(c) ensuring that all members of his team to be deployed
outside the EU,
including locally contracted personnel,
have received appropriate security training before or upon
arriving in the mission area, based on the risk ratings
assigned to the mission area by the General Secretariat of
the Council;

(d) ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following
regular security assessments are implemented and providing
the SG/HR, the Council and the Commission with written
reports on their implementation and on other security
issues within the framework of the mid-term and mandate
implementation reports.

Article 11

Reporting

The EUSR shall regularly provide the SG/HR and the PSC with
oral and written reports. The EUSR shall also report as
necessary to working groups. Regular written reports shall be
circulated through the COREU network. Upon recommendation
of the SG/HR or the PSC, the EUSR may provide the General
Affairs and External Relations Council with reports.

Article 12

Coordination

The EUSR shall promote overall EU political coordination. He
shall help to ensure that all EU instruments in the field are
engaged coherently to attain the EU's policy objectives. The
activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the
Presidency and the Commission, as well as those of the EUSR
for Afghanistan. The EUSR shall provide Member States'
missions and Commission's delegations with regular briefings.

In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with the
Presidency, Commission and Member States' Heads of Mission
who shall make best efforts to assist the EUSR in the imple-
mentation of the mandate. The EUSR shall also liaise with other
international and regional actors in the field.

Article 13

Review

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
present the SG/HR, the Council and the Commission with a
progress report before the end of June 2008 and a compre-
hensive mandate implementation report by mid-November
2008. 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
make recommendations to the PSC concerning the Council's
decision on renewal,
the
amendment or
mandate.

termination of

Article 14

Entry into force

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

its

Article 15

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

Done at Brussels, 12 February 2008.

For the Council
The President

A. BAJUK