HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 187/44
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
17.7.2012
COUNCIL DECISION 2012/390/CFSP
of 16 July 2012
extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative to the African Union
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
(c) working with, and providing support to the AU by
supporting institutional development and strengthening
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in
the relationship between Union and AU institutions,
particular Article 28, Article 31(2) and Article 33 thereof,
including through development assistance, to promote:
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of
— peace and security: predict, prevent, manage, mediate
the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
and resolve conflict, support efforts to promote peace
and stability, support post-conflict reconstruction,
Whereas:
— human rights and governance: promote and protect
(1) On
20
October
2011,
the
Council
adopted
Decision
human rights; promote fundamental freedoms and
2011/697/CFSP ( 1 ) appointing Mr Gary QUINCE as the
respect for the rule of law; support, through political
European Union Special Representative (EUSR) to the
dialogue and financial and technical assistance, African
African Union (AU). The EUSR's mandate is to expire
efforts to monitor and improve governance; support
on 30 June 2012.
growth of participatory democracy and accountability;
support the fight against corruption and organised
(2) The
mandate
of
the
EUSR
should
be
extended
for
a
crime and further promote efforts to address the issue
further period of 12 months.
of children and armed conflict in all its aspects,
(3) The
EUSR
will
implement
the
mandate
in
the
context
of
— sustainable growth, regional integration and trade:
a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the
support efforts towards interconnectivity and facilitate
achievement of the objectives of the Union's external
people's access to water and sanitation, energy
action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,
and information technology; promote a stable, efficient
and harmonised legal business framework; assist to
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
integrate Africa into the world trade system, assist
African countries to comply with Union rules and stan
dards; support Africa in countering the effects of climate
Article 1
change,
European Union Special Representative
The mandate of Mr Gary QUINCE as the EUSR to the AU is
— investment in people: support efforts in the fields of
hereby extended until 30 June 2013. The mandate of the EUSR
gender, health, food security and education, promote
may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a
exchange programmes, networks of universities and
proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
centres of excellence, address the root causes of
Affairs and Security Policy (HR).
migration.
Article 2
Furthermore, the EUSR will play a key role in implementing the
Policy objectives
Joint Africa-EU Strategy intended to further develop and
consolidate the strategic partnership between Africa and the
The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the Union's
Union.
comprehensive policy objectives in support of African efforts
to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future as set out
in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. These objectives include:
Article 3
Mandate
(a) enhancing the Union's political dialogue and broader rela
tionship with the AU;
In order to achieve the Common Foreign and Security Policy
(CFSP)/Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) aspects of
the objectives referred to in Article 2, the mandate of the EUSR
(b) strengthening the Union-AU partnership in all areas
shall be to:
outlined in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, contributing to
the development and implementation of the Joint Africa-
EU Strategy in partnership with the AU, respecting the
(a) strengthen the overall Union influence in, and coordination
principle of African ownership and working more closely
of, the Addis Ababa-based dialogue with the AU and its
with African representatives in multilateral fora in coor
Commission, on the whole range of CFSP/ESDP issues
dination with multilateral partners;
covered by the Union-AU relationship, in particular the
Peace and Security Partnership and support to the oper
( 1 ) OJ L 276, 21.10.2011, p. 46.
ationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture;

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EN
17.7.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
187/45
(b) ensure an appropriate level of political representation,
point of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide the
reflecting the importance of the Union as a political,
EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the
financial and institutional partner of the AU, and the step
framework of the mandate, without prejudice to the powers of
change in that partnership necessitated by the growing
the HR.
political profile of the AU on the world stage;
(c) represent, should the Council so decide, Union positions
3. The
EUSR
shall
work
in
close
coordination
with
the
and policies, when the AU plays a major role in a crisis
European External Action Service (EEAS) and its relevant depart
situation for which no EUSR has been appointed;
ments.
(d) help achieve better coherence, consistency and coordination
Article 5
of Union policies and actions towards the AU, and
contribute to enhance coordination of the broader partner
Financing
group and its relation with the AU;
1. The
financial
reference
amount
intended
to
cover
the
expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period
(e) contribute to the implementation of the Union's human
from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 shall be EUR 680 000.
rights policy relevant to the AU, including the EU
Guidelines on human rights, in particular the EU Guidelines
on Children and Armed Conflict as well as on violence
2. The
expenditure
shall
be
managed
in
accordance
with
the
against women and girls and combating all forms of
procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the
discrimination against them, and the Union policy on
Union.
Women, Peace and Security and the EU Action Plan to
follow up on the decisions of the International Criminal
Court;
3. The
management
of
the
expenditure
shall
be
subject
to
a
contract between the EUSR and the Commission. The EUSR
(f) follow closely, and report on, all relevant developments at
shall be accountable to the Commission for all expenditure.
AU level;
(g) maintain close contact with the AU Commission, other AU
Article 6
organs, missions of African Sub-regional organisations to
Constitution and composition of the team
the AU and the missions of the AU Member States to
the AU;
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
(h) facilitate the relations and cooperation between the AU and
the expertise on specific policy issues as required by the
African Sub-regional organisations, especially in those areas
mandate. The EUSR shall keep the Council and the Commission
where the Union is providing support;
promptly informed of the composition of the team.
(i) offer advice and provide support to the AU upon request in
the areas outlined in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy;
2. Member States, institutions of the Union and the EEAS
may propose the secondment of staff to work with the EUSR.
(j) offer advice and provide support upon request to the
The salary of such seconded personnel shall be covered by the
building up of the AU's crisis management capabilities;
EU Member State, 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
(k) on the basis of a clear division of tasks, coordinate with,
EUSR. International contracted staff shall have the nationality of
and support, the actions of EUSRs with mandates in AU
a Member State.
Member States/Regions; and
(l) maintain close contacts and promote coordination with key
3. All
seconded
personnel
shall
remain
under
the
adminis
international partners of the AU present in Addis Ababa,
trative authority of the sending Member State, the sending insti
especially the United Nations, but also with non-State actors
tution of the Union or the EEAS and shall carry out their duties
on the whole range of the CFSP/CSDP issues covered by the
and act in the interest of the mandate of the EUSR.
Union-AU partnership.
Article 7
Article 4
Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and the staff of the
Implementation of the mandate
EUSR
1. The
EUSR
shall
be
responsible
for
the
implementation
of The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for
the mandate, acting under the authority of the HR.
the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the
EUSR and the members of the EUSR's staff shall be agreed with
2. The
Political
and
Security
Committee
(PSC)
shall
maintain the host party/parties, as appropriate. Member States and the
a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the EUSR's primary
Commission shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

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L 187/46
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
17.7.2012
Article 8
Article 11
Security of EU classified information
Reporting
The EUSR and the members of his team shall respect the
The EUSR shall regularly provide the HR and the PSC with oral
security principles and minimum standards established by
and written reports. The EUSR shall also report to Council
Council Decision 2011/292/EU of 31 March 2011 on the
working parties as necessary. Regular written reports shall be
security rules for protecting EU classified information ( 1 ).
circulated through the COREU network. Upon recommendation
of the HR or the PSC, the EUSR may provide the Foreign Affairs
Article 9
Council with reports.
Access to information and logistical support
Article 12
1. Member States, the Commission and the General Secre
Coordination
tariat of the Council shall ensure that the EUSR is given access
to any relevant information.
1. The
EUSR
shall
contribute
to
the
unity,
consistency
and
effectiveness of the Union's action and shall help ensure that all
2. The
Union's
delegations
and/or
Member
States,
as
appro
Union instruments and Member States' actions are engaged
priate, shall provide logistical support in the region.
consistently, to attain the Union's policy objectives. The
activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the
Commission, as well as those of other EUSRs active in the
Article 10
region, as appropriate. The EUSR shall provide regular
Security
briefings to Member States' missions and the Union's
delegations.
In accordance with the Union's policy on the security of
personnel deployed outside the Union in an operational
2. In the field, close liaison shall be maintained with the
capacity under Title V of the Treaty, the EUSR shall take all
Heads of the Union delegations and Member States' Heads of
reasonably practicable measures, in conformity with the EUSR's
Mission. They shall make every effort to assist the EUSR in the
mandate and on the basis of the security situation in the
implementation of the mandate. The EUSR shall also liaise with
geographical area of responsibility, for the security of all
other international and regional actors in the field.
personnel under the EUSR's direct authority, notably by:
Article 13
(a) establishing a mission-specific security plan based on
guidance from the EEAS, providing for mission-specific
Review
physical, organisational and procedural security measures,
The implementation of this Decision and its consistency with
governing the management of the secure movement of
other contributions from the Union to the region shall be kept
personnel to, and within, the mission area, and the
under regular review. The EUSR shall present the HR, the
management of security incidents, and providing for a
Council and the Commission with a progress report by the
contingency plan and a mission evacuation plan;
end of December 2012 and a comprehensive mandate imple
mentation report at the end of the mandate.
(b) ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the Union are
covered by high risk insurance as required by the conditions
Article 14
in the mission area;
Entry into force
(c) ensuring that all members of his team to be deployed
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
outside the Union, including locally contracted personnel,
have received appropriate security training before or upon
arriving in the mission area, based on the risk ratings
It shall apply from 1 July 2012.
assigned to the mission area by the EEAS;
(d) ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following
Done at Brussels, 16 July 2012.
regular security assessments are implemented and providing
the Council, the Commission and the HR with written
For the Council
reports on their implementation and on other security
issues within the framework of the progress and mandate
The President
implementation reports.
S. ALETRARIS
( 1 ) OJ L 141, 27.5.2011, p. 17.

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