Council Decision 2008/669/CFSP

of 16 June 2008

concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on the Status of the European Union Mission in Support of Security Sector Reform in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 24 thereof,

Having regard to the recommendation from the Presidency,

Whereas:

(1) On 19 November 2007, the Council considered that a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) action in the field of security sector reform (SSR) in Guinea-Bissau would be appropriate, consistent with, and complementary to, European Development Fund and other Community activity.

(2) Following a second EU fact-finding mission deployed in October 2007, on 10 December 2007, the Council approved the General Concept for potential ESDP action in support of Guinea-Bissau SSR.

(3) On 12 February 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/112/CFSP on the European Union mission in support of security sector reform in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (EU SSR GUINEA-BISSAU) [1].

(4) An agreement on the status of the European Union mission in support of security sector reform in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau has been negotiated between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

(5) The Agreement should be approved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on the Status of the European Union Mission in Support of Security Sector Reform in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision [2].

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Union [3].

Article 3

This Decision shall take effect on the day of its adoption.

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels, 16 June 2008.

For the Council

The President

D. Rupel

[1] OJ L 40, 14.2.2008, p. 11.

[2] See page 66 of this Official Journal.

[3] The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

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