Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/905 of 25 June 2018 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/905

of 25 June 2018

extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

Article 2

Policy objectives

• (a) the continued stabilisation of the Horn of Africa, taking into account broader regional dynamics;

• (b) the resolution of conflicts, specifically those in Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, and the prevention and early warning of potential conflicts between or within countries in the region;

• (c) support for political, security and economic regional cooperation, in particular in the context of renewed political engagement between the Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD);

• (d) improved management of mixed migration flows from and within the Horn of Africa, addressing also the root causes of such flows and their humanitarian aspects;

• (e) security around the Red Sea.

Article 3

Mandate

• (a) on the basis of the Strategic Framework and its Regional Action Plan, engage with all relevant stakeholders in the region, governments, regional authorities, international and regional organisations, civil society and diasporas, with a view to furthering the Union's objectives, and contribute to a better understanding of the role of the Union in the region;

• (b) engage with major actors outside the region with influence within the Horn of Africa, in the interests of tackling issues of broader regional stability, including with regard to the Red Sea, to the Western Indian Ocean and to financing of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Those contacts shall include bilateral engagement with the United States of America, the countries of the Gulf, Egypt, Turkey and China, regional contacts with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and interaction with other relevant actors as they emerge;

• (c) represent the Union in relevant international fora, as appropriate, and ensure visibility for the Union's support to crisis management, as well as conflict resolution and prevention;

• (d) encourage and support effective political and security cooperation and economic integration in the region through the Union's partnership with the African Union (AU) and regional organisations, in particular IGAD; contribute to the follow-up of EU/IGAD ministerial meetings and informal EU ministerial meetings with member countries of IGAD;

• (e) follow political developments in the region and contribute to the development of the Union's policy towards the region, with a view to formulating concrete proposals for action, including in relation to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Djibouti-Eritrea border dispute, the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, implementation of the Algiers Agreement, the Nile dispute, and other concerns in the region that impact on its security, stability and prosperity;

• (f) with regard to Somalia, and working in close coordination with the Head of the Union Delegation to Somalia and relevant regional and international partners, including the UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Somalia, the AU and IGAD, continue to contribute actively to actions and initiatives leading to further stabilisation for Somalia, in particular the completion of the federal state-formation process and the implementation of the Transition Plan to usher in the gradual transition and transfer of responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali government and institutions. In addition, the EUSR shall continue to support the development of the security sector in Somalia, including through the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy missions deployed in the region, and to work towards enhanced coordination of international donors to support security sector in Somalia, in close consultation with Member States;

• (g) with regard to Sudan, and working in close cooperation with the Heads of the Union Delegations in Khartoum and to the AU in Addis Ababa, contribute to the coherence and effectiveness of the Union's policy towards Sudan and support political solutions to the situation in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and national reconciliation through a holistic political process including towards planned elections in 2020; in that regard, the EUSR shall contribute to a coherent international approach with the AU and in particular the AU High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan, the UN and other leading regional and international stakeholders, keeping in mind also the need to support the peaceful coexistence of Sudan and South Sudan, in particular through the implementation of the Addis Agreements and resolution of the outstanding issues following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement;

• (h) with regard to South Sudan, building on the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and the High Level Revitalization Forum process, continue to engage at a regional level, particularly with the UN, the AU, IGAD, South Sudan's neighbours and other leading international partners, to ensure the prevention of further conflict and implementation of any credible agreement; in that regard the EUSR shall work in close cooperation with the Heads of the Union Delegations in Juba and to the AU in Addis Ababa;

• (i) examine trans-boundary challenges, in particular on migration and, upon request, engage in dialogues on migration with relevant stakeholders and contribute more generally to the Union's policy on migration and refugees with respect to the region, in line with the Union's political priorities, in order to increase cooperation, including on return and readmission;

• (j) follow closely other trans-boundary challenges affecting the Horn of Africa, with a focus on radicalisation and terrorism, but looking also at maritime security and piracy, organised crime, smuggling and trafficking of weapons, wildlife products, drugs and other contraband, and any political and security consequences of humanitarian crises;

• (k) promote humanitarian access throughout the region;

• (l) contribute to the implementation of Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP ([^E0001]) and the Union's human rights policy, in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, including the EU Guidelines on human rights, in particular the EU Guidelines on children and armed conflict as well as the EU Guidelines on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and the Union's policy regarding UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), including by monitoring and reporting on developments as well as formulating recommendations in this regard.

• (a) advise and report on the definition of Union positions in international fora, as appropriate, in order to promote proactively the Union's comprehensive policy approach towards the Horn of Africa;

• (b) maintain an overview of all activities of the Union.

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

Article 5

Financing

The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR's mandate for the period from 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2020 shall be EUR 1 400 000 .

The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR’s mandate for the period from 1 September 2020 to 28 February 2021 shall be EUR 1 290 000,00 .

The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR’s mandate for the period from 1 March 2021 to 30 June 2021 shall be EUR 345 000 .

Article 6

Constitution and composition of the team

Article 7

Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and the EUSR's staff

The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the EUSR's mission and the members of the EUSR's staff shall be agreed with the host countries, 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 the EUSR's team shall respect the security principles and minimum standards established by Council Decision 2013/488/EU ([^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 accordance with the EUSR's mandate and the security situation in the area of responsibility, for the security of all personnel under the EUSR's direct authority, in particular by:

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

• (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 area of responsibility, based on the risk ratings assigned to that area by the EEAS;

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

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 reports shall be circulated through the COREU network. The EUSR may 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 the EUSR's staff shall assist in providing elements to respond to any claims and obligations arising from the mandates of the previous EUSRs in Sudan (and South Sudan), 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 Council, the HR and the Commission with a progress report by 31 October 2018 and a comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2019.

The final comprehensive mandate implementation report of the EUSR shall be presented by 30 April 2021.

Article 15

Entry into force

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

[^E0001]: Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP of 21 March 2011 on the International Criminal Court and repealing Common Position 2003/444/CFSP (OJ L 76, 22.3.2011, p. 56).

[^E0002]: Council Decision 2013/488/EU of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (OJ L 274, 15.10.2013, p. 1).