CELEX: 52015PC0410
Language: en
Date: 2015-08-28
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the possible relocation of the ICCO headquarter from London to Abidjan

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 28.8.2015
            COM(2015) 410 final
            2015/0183(NLE)
            Proposal for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            on the possible relocation of the ICCO headquarter from London to Abidjan
            
               
         
         
            
               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
            
            
               •Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
            
            
               
                  The Council of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) decided in May 2002 to move its headquarters from London to Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire with effect from 1 January 2003. Due to the security situation in Cote d'Ivoire, the implementation of the relocation to Abidjan was several times postponed, the last time in March 2012 when the Council of ICCO agreed to make a final decision at its September 2015 session.
               
               
                  With the current decision, the European Union will adopt its position to be taken in the 92nd regular session of the ICCO Council in September 2015 (or any extraordinary session after September until the end of 2015) regarding the relocation of ICCO headquarter from London to Abidjan.
               
            
            
               2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
            
            
               •Legal basis
            
            
               
                  With Council Decision 2012/189/EU of 26 March 2012 (OJ L 102, 12.4.2012, p. 1) the European Union approved the International Cocoa Agreement on behalf of the Union. 
               
               
                  With Council Conclusion of 13 March 2012, the European Union adopted its position to be taken in the 85th session of the ICCO Council (March 2012) regarding the relocation of ICCO headquarter to Abidjan.
               
            
            
               3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
            
            
               •Stakeholder consultations
            
            
               
                  The contents of this decision were discussed in the Council Working Party on Commodities at a number of meetings in 2015.
               
            
            
               •Impact assessment
            
            
               
                  Since 2002, no other country than Cote d'Ivoire has offered to host the ICCO. As Cote d'Ivoire is the biggest cocoa producer, a relocation of ICCO's headquarters from London to Abidjan is appropriate, if the local conditions allow it.
               
            
            
               4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
            
            
               
                  Cote d'Ivoire has indicated to take over the relocation costs necessary which have been assessed at 1,949,944£.
               
               
                  The annual administrative budgets of ICCO after relocation to Abidjan would be more or less comparable to the budgets in London.
               
            
            
               5.OTHER ELEMENTS
            
            
               •Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
            
         
         
            
               
                  A decision to move ICCO headquarters from London to Abidjan should be taken in September 2015 or at least not later than end of 2015.
               
               
                  The relocation itself should take place in September 2016 and not later than March 2017.
               
            
            
               2015/0183 (NLE)
            
            
               Proposal for a
            
            
               COUNCIL DECISION
            
            
               on the possible relocation of the ICCO headquarter from London to Abidjan
            
            
               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207 in conjunction of Article 218(9) thereof,
            
            
               Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)The EU is a party to the International Cocoa Agreement 2010 and a member of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO),
            
            
               (2)ICCO is supposed to adopt a decision in the 92nd regular session of its Council in September 2015 regarding the relocation of ICCO headquarter from London to Abidjan,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The European Union’s position for the 92nd regular session of the ICCO Council (21-25 September 2015) regarding the seat of the International Cocoa Organisation is set out as follows:
            
            
               Provided that by the 92nd regular session of the ICCO Council in September 2015 or by any upcoming extraordinary session thereof until the end of 2015,
            
            
               the UN security level for Cote d'Ivoire is number two or better;
            
            
               an updated Headquarters Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding or equivalent exchange of letters between the ICCO and Cote d'Ivoire stipulating the mutual obligations and responsibilities concerning the relocation has been signed or exchanged;
            
            
               an ICCO Council decision is approved on the share of the relocation costs (1,949,944 GBP paid by Cote d'Ivoire) and responsibilities between Cote d'Ivoire and ICCO, the modalities and timelines for the payment of the relocation costs, bearing in mind that 100% of the estimated relocation costs should be paid to ICCO by Cote d'Ivoire until March 2016);
            
            
               an ICCO Council decision is approved establishing the timelines for the relocation;
            
         
         
            
               an ICCO Council decision is approved concerning a  ossible construction of an ICCO office 10 years after the relocation to Abidjan including appropriate modalities of funding (for example accumulated ICCO member contributions for this specific budget item over the next 10 years);
            
            
               the relocation to Abidjan should go ahead.
            
            
               The EU will not support deferring this decision beyond 2015.
            
            
               If it is decided to relocate the ICCO headquarter to Abidjan the EU will support the election of a candidate for Executive Director from consumer countries.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Decision shall enter into force on the first day following its adoption.
            
            
               Article 3
            
            
               This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Council
               
               
                     The President