(1)

On 18 July 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/424/CFSP (1) appointing Mr Bernardino LEÓN as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Southern Mediterranean region. The EUSR's mandate is to expire on 30 June 2013.

(2)

The mandate of the EUSR should be extended for a further period of 12 months.

(3)

The EUSR will implement the mandate 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,

(a)

enhancing the Union's political dialogue, contributing to the partnership and broader relationship with Southern Mediterranean countries, in particular those undergoing political reform and a transition to democracy;

(b)

contributing to the response of the Union to the developments of Southern Mediterranean countries, in particular those undergoing political reform and a transition to democracy, notably by strengthening democracy and institution building, the rule of law, good governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, peace and regional cooperation, including through the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean;

(c)

enhancing the Union's effectiveness, presence and visibility in the region and in relevant international fora;

(d)

establishing close coordination with relevant local partners and international and regional organisations such as the African Union, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, the Arab Maghreb Union, relevant international financial institutions, the United Nations and the private sector.

(a)

strengthen the overall political role of the Union with regard to Southern Mediterranean countries, in particular those undergoing political reform and a transition to democracy, notably by enhancing dialogue with governments and international organisations, as well as with civil society and other relevant interlocutors, and promoting awareness among the partners of the Union's approach;

(b)

maintain close contact with all parties involved in the process of democratic transformation in the region, foster stabilisation and reconciliation in full respect of local ownership and contribute to crisis management and prevention;

(c)

contribute to better coherence, consistency and coordination of the Union and Member States' policies and actions towards the region;

(d)

contribute to promoting coordination with international partners and organisations and to supporting regional cooperation. Assist the HR, in coordination with the Commission and Member States, by contributing to the work of the Task Force and follow up meetings for the Southern Mediterranean region;

(e)

contribute to the implementation of the Union's human rights policy in the region in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, including the EU Guidelines on human rights, in particular the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, as well as the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and the Union's policy on Women, Peace and Security, including by monitoring and reporting on developments, as well as formulating recommendations in this regard.

(a)

establishing a mission-specific security plan based on guidance from the EEAS, providing for mission-specific physical, organisational and procedural security measures governing the management of the secure movement of personnel to, and within, the mission area and the management of security incidents, and providing for a contingency plan and a mission evacuation plan;

(b)

ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the Union are covered by high risk insurance, as required by the conditions in the mission area;

(c)

ensuring that all members of the EUSR's team to be deployed outside the Union, including locally contracted personnel, have received appropriate security training before or upon arriving in the mission area, based on the risk ratings assigned to the mission area by the EEAS;

(d)

ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following regular security assessments are implemented, and providing the Council, the HR and the Commission with written reports on their implementation and on other security issues within the framework of the mid-term and mandate implementation reports.