13.6.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 174/42

(1)

On 4 February 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP (2).

(2)

On 8 June 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/322/CFSP (3) which amended Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP and extended the duration of European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX KOSOVO) for a period of two years until 14 June 2012.

(3)

On 6 June 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/291/CFSP (4) which amended Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP and extended the duration of EULEX KOSOVO for a period of two years until 14 June 2014.

(4)

Following the recommendations in the Strategic Review adopted in 2014, it is necessary to extend the duration EULEX KOSOVO for a further period of two years.

(5)

On 27 May 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/241/CFSP (5) which amended Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP to provide a new financial reference amount intended to cover the period from 15 June 2013 until 14 June 2014. Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP should be amended to provide a new financial reference amount intended to cover the transitional period from 15 June 2014 until 14 October 2014.

(6)

EULEX KOSOVO will be conducted in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union's external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty.

(7)

Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

Article 8 is amended as follows:

(2)

Article 9(4) is replaced by the following:

‘4.   All staff shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the Mission. All staff shall respect the security principles and minimum standards established by Council Decision 2013/488/EU (6).

(3)

Article 10 (3) is replaced by the following:

‘3.   The conditions of employment and the rights and obligations of international and local staff shall be laid down in the contracts to be concluded between EULEX KOSOVO and the staff member concerned.’;

(4)

Article 14 (7) is replaced by the following:

‘7.   The Head of Mission shall ensure the protection of EU classified information in accordance with Decision 2013/488/EU.’;

(5)

The following Article is inserted:

‘Article 15a

Legal arrangements

EULEX KOSOVO shall have the capacity to procure services and supplies, to enter into contracts and administrative arrangements, to employ staff, to hold bank accounts, to acquire and dispose of assets and to discharge its liabilities, and to be a party to legal proceedings, as required in order to implement this Joint Action.’;

(6)

Article 16 is amended as follows:

(7)

The following Article is inserted:

‘Article 16a

Project Cell

1.   EULEX KOSOVO shall have a Project Cell for identifying and implementing projects. EULEX KOSOVO shall, as appropriate, coordinate, facilitate, and provide advice on projects implemented by Member States and third States under their responsibility in areas related to EULEX KOSOVO and in support of its objectives.

2.   EULEX KOSOVO shall be authorised to seek recourse to financial contributions from the Member States or third States to implement projects identified as supplementing in a consistent manner EULEX KOSOVO's other actions, if the project is:

3.   The PCS shall agree on the acceptance of a financial contribution from third States to the Project Cell.’

(8)

In Article 18 paragraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:

‘1.   The HR shall be authorised to release to the United Nations, NATO/KFOR and to other third parties, associated with this Joint Action, EU classified information and documents generated for the purposes of EULEX KOSOVO up to the level of the relevant classification respectively for each of them, in accordance with Decision 2013/488/EU. Local technical arrangements shall be drawn up to facilitate this.

2.   In the event of a specific and immediate operational need, the HR shall also be authorised to release to the competent local authorities EU classified information and documents up to the level “RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED” generated for the purposes of EULEX KOSOVO, in accordance with Decision 2013/488/EU. In all other cases, such information and documents shall be released to the competent local authorities in accordance with the procedures appropriate to those authorities' level of cooperation with the EU.’.

(9)

In Article 20, the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘It shall expire on 14 June 2016.’