Article 1 Establishment, objectives, scope and duration
1. An assistance measure benefitting the Republic of Niger (the ‘beneficiary’) to be financed under the European Peace Facility (EPF) (the ‘assistance measure’) is hereby established. 2. The objective of the assistance measure is to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerien Armed Forces ( Forces armées nigériennes – FAN) in order to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Niger and to better protect the civilian population, including against the mounting terrorist threat, in full compliance with relevant international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law. 3. To achieve the objective set out in paragraph 2, the assistance measure shall finance the provision of air-to-ground ammunition (ML4 on the EU Common Military List) for helicopters MI-35 and MI-171. 4. The implementation of the assistance measure shall be complemented by activities aimed to ensure adequate use, maintenance, storage and monitoring of the air-to-ground ammunition, to be financed under Decision (CFSP) 2023/1137. 5. The duration of the assistance measure shall be 30 months from the adoption of this Decision.
Article 2 Financial arrangements
1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the assistance measure shall be EUR 4 702 998. 2. All expenditure shall be managed in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 and the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF.
Article 3 Arrangements with the beneficiary
1. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) shall make the necessary arrangements with the beneficiary to ensure its compliance with the requirements and conditions established by this Decision as a condition for the provision of support under the assistance measure. 2. The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions obliging the beneficiary to ensure: (a) the compliance of the Air Force of Niger with relevant international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law; (b) the proper and efficient use of any assets provided under the assistance measure for the purposes for which they were provided; (c) the sufficient maintenance of any assets provided under the assistance measure to ensure their usability and their operational availability over their life cycle; (d) that any assets provided under the assistance measure will not be lost, or be transferred without the consent of the Facility Committee established under Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 to persons or entities other than those identified in those arrangements, at the end of their life cycle. 3. The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions on the suspension and termination of support under the assistance measure in the event of the beneficiary being found in breach of the obligations set out in paragraph 2.
Article 4 Implementation
1. The High Representative shall be responsible for ensuring the implementation of this Decision in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 and the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF, in line with the Integrated Methodological Framework for assessing and identifying the required measures and controls for assistance measures under the EPF. 2. The implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1(3) shall be carried out by Défense Conseil International – DCI Group.
Article 5 Monitoring, control and evaluation
1. The High Representative shall monitor the compliance by the beneficiary with the obligations set out in Article 3. This monitoring shall be used to provide awareness of the context and the risks of breaches of the obligations established in accordance with Article 3, and to contribute to the prevention of such breaches, including violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the Air Force of Niger. 2. The post-shipment control of equipment and supplies shall be organised as follows: (a) delivery verification, whereby delivery certificates are to be signed by the end-user forces upon transfer of ownership; (b) reporting, whereby the beneficiary is to report annually on the activities conducted with the equipment, services and infrastructure provided under the assistance measure and on the inventory of designated items, until such reporting is no longer deemed necessary by the Political and Security Committee (PSC); (c) on-site inspections, whereby the beneficiary is to grant the High Representative access to conduct on-site controls upon request. 3. The High Representative shall conduct a final evaluation upon completion of the assistance measure to assess whether the assistance measure has contributed to reaching the objective stated in Article 1(2).
Article 6 Reporting
During the period of implementation, the High Representative shall provide the PSC with six-monthly reports on the implementation of the assistance measure, in accordance with Article 63 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509. The administrator for assistance measures shall regularly inform the Facility Committee established by Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 on the implementation of revenue and expenditure in accordance with Article 38 of that Decision, including by providing information on the suppliers and subcontractors involved.
Article 7 Suspension and termination
1. The PSC may decide to suspend wholly or partially the implementation of the assistance measure in accordance with Article 64 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509. 2. The PSC may also recommend that the Council terminate the assistance measure.
Article 8 Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.