Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1248 of 18 September 2018 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/1248

of 18 September 2018

appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Ms Susanna TERSTAL as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) is extended until 30 April 2021.

Article 2

Policy objectives

Article 3

Mandate

• (a) provide an active and efficient Union contribution to actions and initiatives leading to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-State solution and in line with the Union parameters and relevant UNSCRs including UNSCR 2334 (2016) and put forward proposals for Union action in this regard;

• (b) facilitate and maintain close contacts with all the parties to the peace process, relevant political actors, other countries of the region, members of the Quartet and other relevant countries, as well as the UN and other relevant international organisations, like the League of Arab States, in order to work with them in strengthening the peace process;

• (c) work as appropriate to promote and contribute to a possible new framework of negotiations in consultation with all the key stakeholders and the Union Member States, in particular through advancing the objectives of the Joint Declaration adopted by the participants of the conference held in Paris on 15 January 2017 ([^E0001]);

• (d) actively support and contribute to peace negotiations between the parties, including by putting forward proposals on behalf of the Union and in line with its consolidated longstanding policy in the context of those negotiations;

• (e) ensure the continued presence of the Union in relevant international fora;

• (f) contribute to crisis management and prevention, including with regard to Gaza;

• (g) contribute, where requested, to the implementation of international agreements reached between the parties and engage with them diplomatically in the event of non-compliance with the terms of those agreements;

• (h) contribute to political efforts to bring about a fundamental change leading to a sustainable solution for the Gaza Strip which is an integral part of a future Palestinian State and should be addressed in the negotiations;

• (i) pay particular attention to factors affecting the regional dimension of the peace process, to the engagement with Arab partners and to the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative;

• (j) engage constructively with signatories to agreements within the framework of the peace process in order to promote compliance with the basic norms of democracy, including respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and the rule of law;

• (k) make proposals for Union intervention in the peace process and on the best way of pursuing Union initiatives and ongoing peace process related Union efforts, such as the Union's contribution to Palestinian reforms and including the political aspects of relevant Union development projects;

• (l) engage the parties in refraining from unilateral actions threatening the viability of the two-State solution, notably in Jerusalem and in Area C of the Occupied West Bank;

• (m) report regularly, as Envoy to the Quartet, on progress and evolution in the negotiations, as well as on the Quartet activities, and contribute to the preparation of Quartet Envoys meetings on the basis of Union positions and through coordination with other Quartet members;

• (n) contribute to the implementation of the Union's human rights policy in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, including the Union Guidelines on human rights, in particular the Union Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict as well as on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and Union policy regarding UNSCR 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, including by monitoring and reporting on developments as well as formulating recommendations in this regard;

• (o) contribute to a better understanding of the role of the Union among opinion leaders in the region.

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 28 February 2021 shall be EUR 1 182 524,33 .

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 EUSR staff members 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 on the basis of 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 including a contingency plan 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 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 for the MEPP, 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 January 2019 and a comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2019.

The final comprehensive mandate implementation report of the EUSR shall be presented by 30 November 2020.

Article 15

Entry into force

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

[^E0001]: One Member State (United Kingdom) only attended as an observer and did not sign up to the Joint Declaration adopted at the conference.

[^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).