Council Joint Action 2008/228/CFSP

of 17 March 2008

amending and extending Joint Action 2006/304/CFSP on the establishment of an EU Planning Team (EUPT Kosovo) regarding a possible EU crisis management operation in the field of rule of law and possible other areas in Kosovo

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 14 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 10 April 2006 the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/304/CFSP [1].

(2) On 4 February 2008 the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX KOSOVO [2]. That Joint Action provides inter alia that the EUPT Kosovo will act as the main planning and preparation element for EULEX KOSOVO, and that the EUPT Kosovo is to be responsible for recruiting and deploying staff and procuring equipment, services and premises intended for EULEX KOSOVO. It also provides that third States may second staff to EULEX KOSOVO and that, exceptionally, nationals from participating third States may be recruited on a contractual basis, as appropriate.

(3) The financial reference amount provided for in Joint Action 2006/304/CFSP to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUPT Kosovo, throughout the whole period of the mandate as from 10 April 2006, should include the expenditure to be incurred during the remaining period of the mandate.

(4) Joint Action 2006/304/CFSP should be amended and extended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

Joint Action 2006/304/CFSP is hereby amended as follows:

1. Article 7 shall be replaced by the following:

"Article 7

Third States invited to contribute to EULEX KOSOVO in accordance with Article 13 of Council Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP of 4 February 2008 on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX KOSOVO [***] may be invited to deploy seconded staff to the EUPT Kosovo, as appropriate, provided that they bear the cost of the staff seconded by them, including travel expenses to and from the place of deployment, salaries, medical coverage and allowances. Exceptionally, in duly justified cases where no qualified applications from Member States are available, nationals from third States invited to contribute to EULEX KOSOVO may be recruited on a contractual basis, as appropriate.

2. Article 9(1) shall be replaced by the following:

"1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUPT Kosovo shall be EUR 79505000.";

3. Article 15(2) shall be replaced by the following:

"2. It shall expire on 14 June 2008.".

Article 2

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

Article 3

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 17 March 2008.

For the Council

The President

I. Jarc

[1] OJ L 112, 26.4.2006, p. 19. Joint Action as last amended by Joint Action 2007/778/CFSP (OJ L 312, 30.11.2007, p. 68).

[2] OJ L 42, 16.2.2008, p. 92.

[***] OJ L 42, 16.2.2008, p. 92.";

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