Council Decision 2013/382/CFSP of 15 July 2013 amending and extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Afghanistan

COUNCIL DECISION 2013/382/CFSP

of 15 July 2013

amending and extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Afghanistan

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular Article 28, Article 31(2) and Article 33 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

• (1) On 22 March 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/168/CFSP ([^E0001]) appointing Mr Vygaudas UŠACKAS as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Afghanistan. The EUSR’s mandate is to expire on 30 June 2013.

• (2) The mandate of the EUSR should be extended for a further period of 12 months.

• (3) The EUSR will implement the mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union’s external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

Article 2

Policy objectives

The EUSR shall represent the Union and promote Union policy objectives in Afghanistan, in close coordination with Member States’ representatives in Afghanistan. More specifically, the EUSR shall:

• (a)contribute to the implementation of the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration and lead the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Afghanistan and Pakistan, in so far as it concerns Afghanistan, thereby working with Member States’ representatives in Afghanistan;

• (b)support the political dialogue between the Union and Afghanistan;

• (c)support the pivotal role played by the United Nations (UN) in Afghanistan with particular emphasis on contributing to better coordinated international assistance, thereby promoting the implementation of the London, Kabul, Bonn, Istanbul, Chicago and Tokyo Conference Communiqués, as well as relevant UN Resolutions.

Article 3

Mandate

In order to fulfil the mandate, the EUSR shall, in close cooperation with Member States’ representatives in Afghanistan:

• (a)promote the views of the Union on the political process and developments in Afghanistan;

• (b)maintain close contact with, and support the development of, relevant Afghan institutions, in particular the Government and the Parliament as well as the local authorities. The EUSR shall also maintain contact with other Afghan political groups and other relevant actors in Afghanistan;

• (c)maintain close contact with relevant international and regional stakeholders in Afghanistan, notably the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN and the Senior Civilian Representative of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and other key partners and organisations;

• (d)advise on the progress achieved in meeting the objectives of the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration, of the EU Action Plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan, in so far as it concerns Afghanistan, and of the Kabul, Bonn, Istanbul, Chicago and Tokyo Conferences, in particular in the following areas: —civilian capacity building, notably at sub-national level, —good governance and the establishment of institutions necessary for the existence of the rule of law, in particular an independent judiciary, —electoral reforms, —security sector reforms, including the strengthening of judicial institutions, the national army and the police force, and in particular, the development of the civilian police service, —promotion of growth, namely through agriculture and rural development, —respect for Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations, including respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities and the rights of women and children, —respect of democratic principles and the rule of law, —fostering participation of women in public administration, civil society and, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), the peace process, —respect for Afghanistan’s international obligations, including cooperation in international efforts to combat terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings and proliferation of arms and weapons of mass destruction and related materials, —facilitation of humanitarian assistance and the orderly return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and —enhancing the effectiveness of Union presence and activities in Afghanistan and contributing to the formulation of the regular yearly implementation reports on the EU Action Plan, as requested by the Council;

• (e)actively participate in local coordination fora such as the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board, while keeping non-participating Member States fully informed of decisions taken at those levels;

• (f)advise on the participation and the positions of the Union in international conferences with regard to Afghanistan;

• (g)take an active role in promoting regional cooperation through relevant initiatives including the Istanbul Process and the Regional Economic Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA);

• (h)contribute to the implementation of the Union’s human rights policy and the EU Guidelines on Human Rights, in particular with regard to women and children in conflict- affected areas, especially by monitoring and addressing developments in this regard;

• (i)provide, as appropriate, support to an inclusive and Afghan-led peace process leading to a political settlement consistent with the ‘red lines’ agreed at the Bonn Conference.

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

Article 5

Financing

Article 6

Constitution and composition of the team

Article 7

Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and the staff of the EUSR

The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the EUSR and the members of the EUSR’s staff shall be agreed with the host country, as appropriate. Member States and the EEAS shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

Article 8

Security of EU classified information

The EUSR and the members of his team shall respect the security principles and minimum standards established by Council Decision 2011/292/EU of 31 March 2011 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information ([^E0002]).

Article 9

Access to information and logistical support

Article 10

Security

In accordance with the Union’s policy on the security of personnel deployed outside the Union in an operational capacity under Title V of the Treaty, the EUSR shall take all reasonably practicable measures, in conformity with the EUSR’s mandate and the security situation in the geographical area of responsibility, for the security of all personnel under the EUSR’s direct authority, notably by:

• (a)establishing a mission-specific security plan based on guidance from the EEAS, including mission-specific physical, organisational and procedural security measures, governing management of the secure movement of personnel to, and within, the mission area, as well as management of security incidents and a mission contingency and evacuation plan;

• (b)ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the Union are covered by high risk insurance as required by the conditions in the mission area;

• (c)ensuring that all members of the EUSR’s team to be deployed outside the Union, including locally contracted personnel, have received appropriate security training before or upon arriving in the mission area, based on the risk ratings assigned to the mission area by the EEAS;

• (d)ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following regular security assessments are implemented and providing the HR, the Council and the Commission with written reports on their implementation and on other security issues within the framework of the progress and mandate implementation reports.

Article 11

Reporting

The EUSR shall regularly provide the HR and the PSC with oral and written reports. The EUSR shall also report to Council working parties as necessary. Regular written reports shall be circulated through the COREU network. Upon recommendation of the HR or the PSC, the EUSR shall provide the Foreign Affairs Council with reports. In accordance with Article 36 of the Treaty, the EUSR may be involved in briefing the European Parliament.

Article 12

Coordination

Article 13

Assistance in relation to claims

The EUSR and his staff shall assist in providing elements to respond to any claims and obligations arising from the mandates of the previous EUSRs in Afghanistan, and shall provide administrative assistance and access to relevant files for such purposes.

Article 14

Review

The implementation of this Decision and its consistency with other contributions from the Union to the region shall be kept under regular review. The EUSR shall present the HR, the Council and the Commission with a progress report by the end of December 2013 and a comprehensive mandate implementation report at the end of the mandate.

Article 15

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

It shall apply from 1 July 2013.

[^E0001]: OJ L 75, 23.3.2010, p. 22.

[^E0002]: OJ L 141, 27.5.2011, p. 17.