Council Joint Action 2008/108/CFSP of 12 February 2008 amending and extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the African Great Lakes Region
Date: 2008-02-12
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: East Africa, Southern Africa, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic representation, the EU's international role

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Official Journal of the European Union

13.2.2008

COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/108/CFSP

of 12 February 2008

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

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

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

in

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

On 15 February 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action
2007/112/CFSP (1) appointing Mr Roeland VAN DE GEER
European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the
the period from 1
African Great Lakes Region for
March 2007 to 29 February 2008.

On 12 June 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action
2007/405/CFSP on the European Union police mission
undertaken in the framework of reform of the security
sector (SSR) and its interface with the system of justice in
the Congo (EUPOL RD
the Democratic Republic of
Congo) (2), and Joint Action 2007/406/CFSP on the
European Union mission to provide advice and assistance
for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (EUSEC RD Congo) (3).

the Council adopted Joint
On 20 December 2007,
2008/38/CFSP (4)
Action
Joint Action
2007/405/CFSP (EUPOL RD Congo) to reflect the new
command and control structure for EU civilian crisis
management operations as approved by the Council on
18 June 2007.

amending

The mandate of the EUSR should be adjusted to the role
he has been assigned in relation to these two European
Union SSR missions in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo and, on the basis of a review of Joint Action
2007/112/CFSP, 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,

(1) OJ L 46, 16.2.2007, p. 79.
(2) OJ L 151, 13.6.2007, p. 46.
(3) OJ L 151, 13.6.2007, p. 52.
(4) OJ L 9, 12.1.2008, p. 18.

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Roeland VAN DE GEER as the European
Union Special Representative (EUSR)
for the African Great
Lakes Region is hereby extended until 28 February 2009.

Article 2

Policy objectives

The mandate of
the EUSR shall be based on the policy
objectives of the European Union regarding the further stabili-
sation and consolidation of the post-conflict situation in the
African Great Lakes Region, paying particular attention to the
in the countries
regional dimension of
concerned. Promoting, in particular, compliance with the basic
norms of democracy and good governance,
including respect
for human rights and the rule of law, these objectives include:

the developments

(a) active and effective contribution to a consistent, sustainable
and responsible policy of the European Union in the African
Great Lakes Region, promoting a coherent overall European
Union approach in the region. The EUSR shall support the
work of the Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR)
in the region;

(b) ensuring the continued commitment of the European Union
to the stabilisation and reconstruction processes in the
region, through an active presence on the ground and in
relevant international fora, staying in touch with key players
and contributing to crisis management;

(c) contributing to the post-transition phase in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), in particular as regards the
political process of consolidating the new institutions and
framework for political
defining a broader international
consultation and coordination with the new government;

(d) contributing,

in close

cooperation with the United
Nations/MONUC,
to the international support efforts to
pursue a comprehensive Security Sector Reform in the
DRC,
in particular in view of the coordinating role the
European Union is ready to assume in this context;

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(e) contributing to appropriate follow-up measures to the Inter-
national Conference of the Great Lakes Region, in particular
by establishing close contacts with the Great Lakes Secre-
tariat and its Executive Secretary as well as with the Troika
of the follow-up mechanism and by promoting good neigh-
bourly relations in the region;

(f) contribute, where requested, to the negotiation and imple-
mentation of peace and cease-fire agreements between the
parties and engage with them diplomatically in the event of
non-compliance with the terms of these agreements; in the
context of the ongoing LRA negotiations, such activities
should be pursued in close coordination with the EUSR
for Sudan;

(f) addressing the still considerable problem of armed groups
operating across the borders with the risk of destabilising
the countries in the region and aggravating their internal
problems;

(g) contributing to the post-conflict stabilisation in Burundi,
Rwanda and Uganda,
in particular through accompanying
peace negotiations with armed groups like FNL and LRA.

(g) contribute to the implementation of the European Union
human rights policy and European Union Guidelines on
human rights, in particular the European Union Guidelines
on Children and Armed Conflict, and the European Union
policy
Resolution
1325(2000) on Women, Peace and Security, including by
monitoring and reporting on developments in this regard.

regarding UN Security

Council

Article 3

Mandate

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

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of
1.
the mandate acting under
the authority and operational
direction of the Secretary General/High Representative (SG/HR).

(a) establish and maintain close contact with the countries of
the Great Lakes Region, the United Nations, the African
Union, key African countries and main partners of
the
DRC and the European Union, as well as regional and
sub-regional African organisations, other
third
countries and other key regional leaders;

relevant

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.

(b) advise and report on the possibilities for European Union
supporting the stabilisation and consolidation process and
on how best to pursue European Union initiatives;

Article 5

Financing

(c) provide advice and assistance for security sector reform

(SSR) in the DRC;

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
1 370 000.

the Great Lakes Region,

(d) contribute to the follow-up to the International Conference
of
in particular by supporting
policies defined in the region pursuing the objectives of
non-violence and mutual defence in the resolution of
conflicts as well as, regarding the regional cooperation, by
promoting human rights
good
governance, combating impunity, judicial cooperation, and
the fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources;

democratisation,

and

(e) contribute to a better understanding of

the European

Union’s role among opinion leaders in the region;

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.

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Article 6

Article 10

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
Commission. The team shall
include the expertise on specific
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.

3.
All seconded personnel shall remain under the adminis-
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
the
appropriate. Member
party/parties
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.

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.

(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).

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

1.
The EUSR shall promote coherence between CFSP/ESDP
actors and 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 other EUSRs active in
the region as appropriate. The EUSR shall provide Member
States’ missions and Commission’s delegations with regular
briefings.

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In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with
2.
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.

3.
The EUSR shall ensure consistency between the activities
of the EUSEC and EUPOL RD Congo missions and provide the
Heads of these missions with local political guidance. The EUSR
shall contribute to coordination with the other international
players involved in security sector reform in the DRC. The
EUSR and the Civilian Operation Commander shall consult
each other as required.

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 2009 and a compre-
hensive mandate implementation report by mid-November
2009. 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