Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1527 of 20 July 2023 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.) and amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135
Date: 2023-07-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Kosovo, Kosovo question, diplomatic representation




L_2023185EN.01003001.xml










24.7.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 185/30








            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/1527
of 20 July 2023
         
extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (*1) and amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:







(1)


On 4 February 2008, the Council agreed to appoint a European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Kosovo.












(2)


On 30 July 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135 (1) appointing Mr Tomáš SZUNYOG as the EUSR in Kosovo. The EUSR’s mandate has been extended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1194 (2), and is to expire on 31 August 2023.












(3)


The EUSR’s mandate should be extended for a further period of 12 months and a new financial reference amount for the period from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be established.












(4)


The EUSR will implement the mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union’s external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135 is amended as follows:






(1)


Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1
European Union Special Representative
The mandate of Mr Tomáš SZUNYOG as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Kosovo is extended until 31 August 2024. The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, based on an assessment by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).’
;









(2)


in Article 5(1), the following subparagraph is added:

                              ‘The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR’s mandate for the period from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 shall be EUR 2 850 000
                              ’;










(3)


in Article 14, the second sentence is replaced by the following:

                              ‘The EUSR shall present the Council, the HR and the Commission with regular progress reports and a final comprehensive mandate implementation report by 31 May 2024.’.






Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels, 20 July 2023.


For the Council


The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES
            





(*1)  This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135 of 30 July 2020 appointing the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (OJ L 247, 31.7.2020, p. 25).

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1194 of 19 July 2021 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo and amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135 (OJ L 258, 20.7.2021, p. 48).