CELEX: 52012PC0288
Language: en
Date: 2012-06-14
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION extending the period of application of the appropriate measures laid down for the Republic of Guinea by Decision 2011/465/EU and amending that Decision

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		52012PC0288
		
			Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION extending the period of application of the appropriate measures laid down for the Republic of Guinea by Decision 2011/465/EU and amending that Decision /* COM/2012/0288 final - 2012/0151 (NLE) */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
In July 2011 the Council of the European
Union eased the appropriate measures laid down in July 2009 for Guinea, in
recognition of progress made towards a return to constitutional rule since the
inauguration of President Alpha Condé following democratic elections. Yet the
Council recalled at the time that the transition would be complete only once
free and transparent parliamentary elections had been held. 
Council Decision 2011/465/EU expires on 19
July 2012. The Decision stipulates in the first milestone that the 10th EDF
Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme (CSP/NIP) may be
signed once they are finalised and once the competent Guinean authorities have
adopted and forwarded a detailed timetable (preliminary dates and
stages/preparatory operations) for the holding of parliamentary elections by
the end of 2011. Technical appraisal of the projects and programmes provided
for in the CSP/NIP may also be carried out and funds from the 10th EDF for
direct support to the people may be released. Release of the remaining funds
from the 10th EDF allocated to Guinea is, however, contingent upon the second
milestone, which is the holding of free and transparent parliamentary
elections. 
Neither of the milestones has been achieved
to date. The date for holding elections has not yet been set, in spite of the
numerous commitments made by President Condé to organise elections as quickly
as possible. The monitoring mission carried out under Article 96 on 28-29
February 2012 established that conditions for lifting the appropriate measures
had not been met. 
As preparations for parliamentary elections
are well behind schedule and as the situation on the ground has not changed
significantly since July 2011 (date of Council Decision 2011/465/EU), the
Commission believes that the period of application of the appropriate measures
should be extended and the deadline for holding parliamentary election
postponed until the end of 2012. 
Conclusion:
The Council is requested to approve the
draft Council Decision extending the period of application of the appropriate
measures laid down for the Republic of Guinea by Decision 2011/465/EU. 
2012/0151 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
extending the period of application of the
appropriate measures laid down for the
Republic of Guinea by Decision 2011/465/EU and amending that Decision
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, 
Having regard to the Partnership Agreement
between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of
the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other
part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000[1] and revised in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 22 June 2010[2] (hereinafter
called the Cotonou Agreement), and in particular Article 96 thereof,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement on
measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of
the Cotonou Agreement[3], and in particular
Article 3 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
Commission, 
Whereas:
(1)       Decision 2011/465/EC of 18
July 2011[4] lays down appropriate
measures for Guinea under Article 96 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement. 
(2)       Decision 2011/465/EU
requires that two milestones be achieved before cooperation with Guinea under
the 10th European Development Fund (10th EDF) can be resumed, namely: that a
detailed timetable (preliminary dates and stages/preparatory operations) be
drawn up and adopted by the competent authorities for the holding of
parliamentary elections by the end of 2011, and that free and transparent
parliamentary elections be held. 
(3)       To date, neither of these
conditions has been met. 
(4)       It is therefore necessary
to extend the period of application of the appropriate measures laid down in
Decision 2011/465/EU and to postpone the deadline set in these measures for the
holding of parliamentary elections until the end of 2012,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1
The period of validity of Council Decision
2011/465/EU of 18 July 2011 is extended by 12 months. To that end, the Decision
is amended as follows: 
- in Article 3, the date '19 July 2012'
shall be replaced by the date '19 July 2013'; 
- in the Commitments by Partners in the
Annex, the deadline given in the commitments by Guinea for holding
parliamentary elections is extended until the end of 2012. 
Article 2
The letter in the Annex to this Decision
shall be addressed to the Guinean authorities. 
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the
date of its adoption. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council
The President
ANNEX 
To the President and the Prime Minister of
the Republic of Guinea
Sirs,
Welcoming the progress made by the Republic
of Guinea in returning to constitutional rule following the peaceful conclusion
of the presidential elections in 2010 and the inauguration of a legitimate
President and a civil government, in July 2011 the Council of the European
Union, eased the appropriate measures laid down for Guinea . 
In Decision 2011/465/EU of 18 July 2011,
the Council specified that cooperation with Guinea under the 10th European
Development Fund (EDF) could be resumed in two stages, depending on progress
made towards the holding of free and transparent parliamentary elections by the
end of 2011. 
The Council of the European Union finds
that neither of the conditions has been met to date and has therefore decided,
on the one hand, to extend the period of application of the appropriate
measures set forth in Council Decision 2011/465/EU, and, on the other hand, to postpone
the deadline for holding parliamentary elections until the end of 2012. Failure
to respect this deadline will limit the possibilities of funds being committed
from the 10th EDF.
We should like to recall the importance
which the European Union attaches to the holding of credible, free and
transparent parliamentary elections as quickly as possible and under optimum
conditions, marking the end of the transition in Guinea. The European Union
confirms its commitment to supporting the organisation of these elections. 
We assure you, Sirs, of the European
Union's support for your efforts to ensure sustainable economic growth and the
welfare of the Guinean people. 
Yours faithfully,
Done at Brussels, 
 For the Council || For the Commission 
 C. ASHTON President || A. PIEBALGS Commissioner 
[1]               OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.
[2]               OJ L 287, 4.11.2010, p. 3.
[3]               OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 376,
as amended, OJ L 247, 9.9.2006, p. 48.
[4]               OJ L 195, 27.7.2011, p. 2.