Council Joint Action 2008/491/CFSP

of 26 June 2008

amending and extending Council Joint Action 2007/406/CFSP on the European Union mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (EUSEC RD Congo)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Whereas:

(1) Since 2 May 2005 the European Union has conducted a mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), (EUSEC RD Congo). The mission's current mandate is specified by Joint Action 2007/406/CFSP [1] and ends on 30 June 2008.

(2) The mission's mandate should be extended for a period of 12 months from 1 July 2008.

(3) The support provided by the European Union to the Congolese authorities in the sphere of security sector reform in the DRC could henceforth also involve focusing on drawing up the arrangements for the organisation of the future Rapid Reaction Force specified by the Government of the DRC as part of the overall plan for reforming the army. Particular emphasis should be placed on the "human resources" function.

(4) The statements of commitment signed in Goma on 23 January 2008 by the Government of the DRC and armed groups operating in the Kivus began a process of pacification of the Kivus. This process receives back-up from the international community, including the European Union by way of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the African Great Lakes Region. The EUSEC RD Congo mission should play a part in the efforts made by the EUSR in the work being done to implement the statements of commitment for the Kivus.

(5) A new financial reference amount should be provided to cover expenditure relating to the mission for the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

(6) The current security situation in the DRC could deteriorate, producing potentially serious consequences for the process of democratic reform, the rule of law and security at international and regional level. Sustained commitment by the EU in terms of political effort and resources will help to establish stability in the region.

(7) Joint Action 2007/406/CFSP should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

Joint Action 2007/406/CFSP is hereby amended as follows:

1. In Article 2, points (a) to (e) shall be replaced by the following:

"(a) providing advice and assistance to the Congolese authorities in their work to integrate, restructure and rebuild the Congolese army, particularly by:

- contributing to the development of various national plans and policies, including work on horizontal issues which cover all the areas involved in the reform of the security sector in the DRC,

- providing support for the committees and bodies involved in that work, and contributing to the definition of the priorities and practical needs of the Congolese,

- contributing, inter alia by supplying expertise in the selection, training and education of staff and the assessment of infrastructure and equipment requirements, to the drawing up of the arrangements for the organisation and gradual establishment of the Rapid Reaction Force as part of the overall plan for reforming the army with due respect for the principles of human rights, international humanitarian law, gender issues and children affected by armed conflicts;

(b) running and bringing to completion the technical assistance project on the modernisation of the chain of payments of the Ministry of Defence of the DRC, hereinafter referred to as the "chain of payments project", so as to carry out the tasks specified in the General Concept for the project;

(c) on the basis of the chain of payments project, providing support for the human resources function and for the development of a general human resources policy;

(d) identifying and contributing to the development of various projects and options that the European Union or its Member States may decide to support relating to the reform of the security sector;

(e) supervising specific projects financed or initiated by the Member States in pursuit of the objectives of the mission and overseeing their implementation, in coordination with the Commission;

(f) providing support for the EUSR, as and when necessary, in the context of the work carried out by the committees for the process of pacification of the Kivus;

and

(g) contributing to ensuring that all efforts made as regards SSR are consistent.";

2. In Article 3(a), the second indent shall be replaced by the following:

- "— a support cell, and";

3. In the second indent of Article 3(c), the words "a mobile team" shall be replaced by "mobile teams";

4. Article 5 shall be amended as follows:

(a) Paragraph 1 shall be replaced by:

"1. The Head of Mission shall assume day to day management of the mission and shall be responsible for staff and disciplinary matters.";

(b) the first sentence of paragraph 2 shall be replaced by:

"2. In implementing the mission statement as set out in Article 2(e), the Head of Mission shall be authorised to have recourse to financial contributions from the Member States.";

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

"1. The financial reference amount to cover expenditure relating to the mission for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 shall be EUR 9700000.

The financial reference amount to cover expenditure relating to the mission for the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009 shall be EUR 8450000.";

6. Article 15 is hereby deleted;

7. In Article 16, the second paragraph shall be replaced by the following:

"It shall apply until 30 June 2009.".

Article 2

This Joint Action shall enter into force on 1 July 2008.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 26 June 2008.

For the Council

The President

D. Rupel

[1] OJ L 151, 13.6.2007, p. 52.

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