COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/963

16.5.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 129/12 ---|---|---|--- * * * COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/963 of 15 May 2023 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Gulf region THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) | On 18 May 2022, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy adopted a Joint Communication to the European Parliament and to the Council on a strategic partnership with the Gulf. This was followed by the Council conclusions of 20 June 2022. ---|--- (2) | A European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Gulf region should be appointed for a period of 21 months. ---|--- (3) | The Council and the Commission, assisted by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, should ensure consistency between the different areas of the Union’s external action in the Gulf region and should cooperate closely to that effect. The EUSR will support and cooperate with the institutions in this respect. ---|--- (4) | The EUSR is to 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 on European Union, ---|--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 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 Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, on the basis of an assessment by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and 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 the mitigation of their potential effects, in particular by addressing common threats such as terrorism, climate change, environmental degradation or 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 1\. The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of the mandate, acting under the authority of the HR. 2\. The PSC shall maintain a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the EUSR’s primary point of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide the EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the framework of the mandate, without prejudice to the powers of the HR. 3\. The EUSR shall work in close coordination with the relevant departments of the EEAS. 4\. The EUSR shall work in close coordination with Union Delegations in the region. 5\. The EUSR shall be based in the EEAS headquarters, traveling regularly to the region. Article 5 Financing 1\. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR for the period from 1 June 2023 until 28 February 2025 shall be EUR 1 800 000. 2\. The expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. 3\. The management of the expenditure shall be subject to a contract between the EUSR and the Commission. The EUSR shall be accountable to the Commission for all expenditure. Article 6 Constitution and composition of the team 1\. Within the limits of the EUSR’s mandate and the corresponding financial means made available, the EUSR shall be responsible for constituting a team. The team shall include expertise on specific policy issues as required by the mandate. The EUSR shall keep the Council and the Commission promptly informed of the composition of the team. 2\. Member States, the institutions of the Union and the EEAS may propose the secondment of staff to the EUSR. The salary of such seconded personnel shall be covered by the Member State concerned, the institution of the Union concerned or the EEAS, respectively. Experts seconded by Member States to the institutions of the Union or the EEAS may also be posted to the EUSR’s team. International contracted staff shall have the nationality of a Member State. 3\. All seconded personnel shall remain under the administrative authority of the sending Member State, the sending institution of the Union or the EEAS and shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the mandate of the EUSR. 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 (1). Article 9 Access to information and logistical support 1\. Member States, the Commission services, the EEAS and the General Secretariat of the Council shall ensure that the EUSR is given access to any relevant information. 2\. The Union delegations in the region and/or the Member States, as appropriate, shall provide logistical support in the region. 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 1\. The EUSR shall contribute to the unity, consistency and effectiveness of the Union’s action and shall help ensure that all Union instruments and Member States’ actions are engaged consistently, to attain the Union’s policy objectives. The activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the Commission. The EUSR shall provide regular briefings to Member States’ missions and Union delegations in the region. 2\. In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with the Heads of Union Delegations and Member States’ Heads of Mission. They shall make every effort to assist the EUSR in the implementation of the mandate. To that effect, the EUSR shall also liaise with other international and regional actors in the field. 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 a final comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2024. Article 14 Entry into force This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 15 May 2023. For the Council The President J. FORSSMED * * * (1) 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). * * *