COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2017/346

of 27 February 2017

extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights

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:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Stavros LAMBRINIDIS as the EUSR for Human Rights is extended until 28 February 2019. The Council may decide that the EUSR's mandate be terminated earlier, based on 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 EUSR's mandate shall be based on the policy objectives of the Union regarding human rights as set out in the Treaty on European Union, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as well as the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy and the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy:

Article 3

Mandate

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

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 European External Action Service (EEAS) and its relevant departments in order to ensure coherence and consistency in their respective work in the area of human rights.

Article 5

Financing

1.   The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR's mandate for the period from 1 March 2017 to 28 February 2018 shall be EUR 860 000.

2.   The financial reference amount for the subsequent period for the EUSR shall be decided by the Council.

3.   The expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.

4.   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 the 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 work with the EUSR. The salary of such seconded personnel shall be covered by the sending Member State, the sending institution of the Union or the EEAS, respectively. Experts seconded by Member States to the institutions of the Union or the EEAS may also be posted to work with the EUSR. 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, respectively, and shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the EUSR's mandate.

4.   The EUSR's staff shall be co-located within the relevant EEAS departments or Union delegations in order to ensure coherence and consistency of their respective activities.

Article 7

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 (2).

Article 8

Access to information and logistical support

1.   Member States, the Commission, 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 and the diplomatic representations of Member States, as appropriate, shall provide logistical support to the EUSR.

Article 9

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:

Article 10

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, in particular the Working Party on Human Rights, 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 11

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 Member States and the Commission, as well as other European Union Special Representatives, as appropriate. The EUSR shall provide regular briefings to Member States' missions and the Union delegations.

2.   In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with the relevant Heads of Member States' Missions, the Heads of the Union delegations, as well as with Heads or Commanders of Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations and other European Union Special Representatives as appropriate. They shall make every effort to assist the EUSR in the implementation of the mandate.

3.   The EUSR shall also liaise and seek complementarity and synergies with other international and regional actors at Headquarters level and in the field. The EUSR shall seek regular contacts with civil society organisations both at Headquarters and in the field.

Article 12

Review

The implementation of this Decision and its consistency with other contributions from the Union shall be kept under regular review. The EUSR shall present the Council, the HR and the Commission with regular progress reports and a comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2018.

Article 13

Entry into force

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

(1)  Council Decision 2012/440/CFSP of 25 July 2012 appointing the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights (OJ L 200, 27.7.2012, p. 21).

(2)  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).