COUNCIL DECISION
of 25 September 1995
supplementing  Decision 94/276/CFSP on a joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the  Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East peace process, concerning the observation  of elections to the Palestinian Council and the coordination of the international operation for  observing the elections
(95/403/CFSP)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles J.3 and J.11 (2)  thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 94/276/CFSP of 19 April 1994 on a joint action adopted by the  Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East  peace process (1),
Having regard to Council Decision 95/205/CFSP of 1 June 1995 supplementing Decision 94/267/CFSP  (2),
The European Union shall participate in observing the elections to  the Palestinian Council provided for in the Declaration of Principles of 13 September 1993, in  accordance with the agreement to be concluded between the parties concerned on the observation and  coordination of elections. The European Union shall organize the coordination of the observation in  accordance with international rules. It shall be responsible for the financing of this task in  accordance with Article 3 of this Decision.
The European Union shall carry out this coordination and observation by two means:
1. it shall take the appropriate measures to organize the coordination with the States and  international organizations concerned;
2. it shall establish a 'European Electoral Unit' in the territories concerned, headed by a  high-ranking figure with a high political profile. The characteristics of this 'European Electoral  Unit' are set out in Annex I.
The European observation mission shall comprise a maximum of 300 observers, 30 of whom  shall be designated by the European Parliament.
All the expenditure incurred for the operation of the European Electoral Unit shall be  charged to the maximum amount of ECU 10 million set in Decision 95/205/CFSP.
The expenses incurred by the participation of European Union observers shall also be charged to  that amount, with the exception of the cost of their journeys to and from the territories concerned  and insurance costs which shall be borne respectively by the Member States or institutions which  designated them.
The expenditure shall be administered in accordance with the Community's budgetary rules and  procedures. The European Court of Auditors shall be invited to audit the accounts of the European  Electoral Unit.
The guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the observers  and of the members of the European Electoral Unit shall be defined with the parties.
The Member States and the Commission shall present the list of observers and the  candidatures of the persons wishing to participate in the European Electoral Unit.
The Presidency, in full association with the Commission and with the assistance of an advisory  coordination group, composed of representatives of the Member States, shall draw up the list of  observers and of members of the European Electoral Unit.
The Presidency, in full association with the Commission and assisted by the advisory  group referred to in the second paragraph of Article 4, shall define the guidelines and take the  measures required to ensure that this Decision is followed up, in liaison with the European  Electoral Unit, in those areas which concern it.
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.