Council Joint Action 2007/334/CFSP

of 14 May 2007

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] establishing 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.

(2) On 11 December 2006 the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/918/CFSP amending and extending until 31 May 2007 Joint Action 2006/304/CFSP.

(3) On 27 March 2007, the Political and Security Committee recommended that EUPT Kosovo should be extended for a further period until 1 September 2007 in principle, this date being subject to the ongoing work in the United Nations.

(4) With a view to ensuring a seamless transition between the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo on the day of transfer of selected tasks from UNMIK to the EU crisis management operation following the adoption of a United Nations Security Council Resolution, EUPT Kosovo should be used as a vehicle for the build-up of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo during the transition period. In this context, close coordination between the Head of EUPT Kosovo and the Head of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo should be ensured during that period.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

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

1. Article 5 shall be amended as follows:

(a) paragraph 3 shall be replaced by the following:

"3. The SG/HR shall give guidance to the Head of EUPT Kosovo. Following the establishment of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo and before the launch of the operational phase of the mission, the SG/HR shall give guidance to the Head of EUPT Kosovo through the Head of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo once the latter has been appointed.";

(b) paragraph 4 shall be replaced by the following:

"4. The Head of EUPT Kosovo shall lead EUPT Kosovo and assume its day-to-day management. Following the establishment of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo and before the launch of its operational phase, the Head of EUPT Kosovo shall act under the direction of the Head of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo once the latter has been appointed.";

(c) paragraph 5 shall be replaced by the following:

"5. The Head of EUPT Kosovo shall report to the SG/HR. Following the establishment of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo and before the launch of its operational phase, the Head of EUPT Kosovo shall report to the SG/HR through the Head of the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo once the latter has been appointed.";

(d) the following paragraph shall be added:

"6. Once the Political and Security Committee has reached an agreement in principle on the appointment of the Head of the EU crisis management operation, appropriate liaison and coordination shall be ensured by the Head of EUPT Kosovo."

2. Article 7 shall be replaced by the following:

"Article 7

Participation of third States

Without prejudice to the decision-making autonomy of the EU and its single institutional framework, third States may be invited to contribute to EUPT Kosovo, once the EU crisis management operation in Kosovo is established, provided that they bear the cost of the staff seconded by them, including salaries, medical coverage, allowances, high-risk insurance and travel expenses to and from the mission area, and contribute to the running costs of the EUPT Kosovo, as appropriate.

The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take the relevant decisions on acceptance of the proposed contributions."

3. Article 14 shall be replaced by the following:

"Article 14

Review

By 15 July 2007 the Council shall evaluate whether EUPT Kosovo should be continued after 1 September 2007, taking into account the necessity of a smooth transition to a possible EU crisis management operation in Kosovo."

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

"2. It shall expire on 1 September 2007."

Article 2

The financial reference amount as set out in Article 1(4) of Joint Action 2006/918/CFSP shall be increased by EUR 43955000 in order to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of EUPT Kosovo for the period from 1 June 2007 to 1 September 2007.

Article 3

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

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels, 14 May 2007.

For the Council

The President

F.-W. Steinmeier

[1] OJ L 112, 26.4.2006, p. 19. Joint Action as amended by Joint Action 2006/918/CFSP (OJ L 349, 12.12.2006, p. 57).

--------------------------------------------------