Council Decision 2014/860/CFSP of 1 December 2014 amending and extending Decision 2012/173/CFSP on the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operation in the Horn of Africa

2.12.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 346/32
COUNCIL DECISION 2014/860/CFSP
of 1 December 2014
amending and extending Decision 2012/173/CFSP on the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operation in the Horn of Africa
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 42(4) and 43(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 9 December 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/725/CFSP (1) amending and extending Council Decision 2012/173/CFSP. (2)
(2) In line with the outcome of the Review of the EU Operations Centre, its mandate should be extended until December 2016. This will also allow for time to prepare for a transition of its coordination and planning functions and resources to the EEAS/CSDP structures on a permanent basis, in the context of the EEAS review process to be led by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR), with due regard to the institutional framework and applicable procedures. There would be no need for further mandate extension after such a transition. Any future new entity within the EEAS/CSDP structures undertaking coordination and planning support functions would therefore have a different name reflecting this role. In the interim, the EU Operations Centre should expand its civil/military coordination and planning support role, and assume enhanced geographical responsibility for the Sahel region, within the established resource and staffing ceiling. Any geographical expansion beyond the Sahel region would require a separate Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreement.
(3) Decision 2012/173/CFSP should therefore be amended and extended accordingly,