Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/963 of 15 May 2023 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Gulf region

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

Mr Luigi DI MAIO is hereby appointed as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Gulf region from 1 June 2023 until 28 February 2025.

The mandate of Mr Luigi DI MAIO as the EUSR for the Gulf region is extended until 28 February 2027.

The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR (the ‘mandate’) be terminated earlier, on the basis of an assessment by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).

Article 2

Policy objectives

The mandate of the EUSR shall be consistent with the Union’s foreign policy objectives in the Gulf region. Those objectives include:

• (a) safeguarding the Union’s fundamental interests and security in the Gulf region;

• (b) promoting good and close relations between the Union and the countries of the Gulf region on the basis of common values and interests;

• (c) building a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic partnership with the countries in the Gulf region to enhance prosperity and security;

• (d) contributing to stability and security in the Gulf region by promoting de-escalation of tensions and supporting dialogue and long-term regional solutions in the Gulf region.

Article 3

Mandate

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:

• (a) support the HR, together with the European External Action Service (EEAS), in the implementation of the foreign policy and security aspects of the 18 May 2022 Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf and the related Council conclusions of 20 June 2022;

• (b) contribute through diplomatic channels to the preservation of peace and the prevention of conflicts in the region, as well as mitigation of their potential effects, in particular by addressing common threats such as terrorism, climate change, environmental degradation or maritime and energy insecurity;

• (c) help to ensure consistency of the Union’s external action and promote the Union’s priorities, values and interests in the region;

• (d) contribute to a better understanding of the role of the Union and its visibility in the region, help to address disinformation and to build stronger people-to-people contacts;

• (e) to strengthen contacts with the Gulf region partners individually, but also by liaising, where required, with relevant regional organisations like the Gulf Cooperation Council, the League of Arab States and other relevant organisations at the EUSR’s level;

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

Article 5

Financing

The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate if the EUSR for the period from 1 March 2025 until 28 February 2027 shall be EUR 2 612 386,42 .

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 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 ([^E0001]).

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 on European Union, the EUSR shall take all reasonably practicable measures, in accordance with the mandate and the security situation in the geographical 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 the 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’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 regular progress reports and a final comprehensive mandate implementation report.

Article 11

Reporting

The EUSR shall regularly provide the HR, EEAS 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. The EUSR may be involved in briefing the European Parliament.

Article 12

Coordination

Article 13

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 regular progress reports and with a final comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2026.

Article 13a

Access to documents and data protection

Article 14

Entry into force

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

[^E0001]: 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).

[^E0002]: Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1049/oj).

[^E0003]: Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1725/oj).