31996E0476

JOINT ACTION adopted by the Council on 26 July 1996 on interim arrangements concerning the phasing out of the European Union Administration of Mostar (96/476/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article J.3,

Having regard to the general guidelines given by the European Council meeting in Corfu on 24 and 25 June 1994,

Whereas, with a view to a follow-on EU presence to consolidate the achievements of the European Union Administration of Mostar (EUAM) after its expiry on 22 July 1996, the Council has adopted on 15 July 1996 Joint Action 96/442/CFSP (1) on the nomination of a Special Envoy of the EU in the city of Mostar; whereas, however, such Joint Action would come into effect only upon fulfilment of a number of conditions, to be certified by the Presidency and the Special Envoy; whereas the Council has been notified that the conditions are not met;

Whereas, pending further contacts with the parties on whether these conditions could still be met, a limited EU presence in the city remains necessary,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. The European Union notes that, according to Article 4 (1) of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the EUAM ended on 22 July 1996.

2. The European Union notes that the provisions of the MOU remain in force and apply, mutatis mutandis, with the exception of the provisions that are directly linked to the task of the EUAM.

3. The European Union notes that Joint Action 96/442/CFSP on the nomination of a EU Special Envoy in the city of Mostar has not yet taken effect.

4. It will take effect on 3 August 1996 provided that the Presidency has informed the Council that it is satisfied that the local parties are committed to the objectives set out in Article 1 (2) and in Article 2 of that Joint Action and have no objection to the Special Envoy's function, nor to the continuing implementation, mutatis mutandis, of certain provisions of the MOU, as specified in Article 1 (3) of that Joint Action.

Article 2

1. During the period of this Joint Action EU personnel will remain in Mostar on the same basis as during the period of the EUAM.

2. The Presidency, in association with the Commission, will take the necessary steps to maintain the guarantees as applied to the EUAM in all its components, including the Western European Union police element on the basis of the conditions agreed for the period of the EUAM. Member States and the Commission shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

Article 3

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. It shall apply from 23 July 1996 and expire on 4 August 1996.

Article 4

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 26 July 1996.

For the Council

The President

D. SPRING

(1) OJ L 185, 24. 7. 1996, p. 2.