(1)

Recent developments in the Arab world call for a strengthened and comprehensive response from the European Union.

(2)

The European Council adopted Declarations on 4 February and 11 March 2011, and Conclusions on 24-25 March 2011 expressing the Union’s intention to support all steps towards democratic transformation in its Southern Neighbourhood and to develop a new partnership with the region.

(3)

The Council adopted conclusions on 21 February 2011 on developments in the Southern Neighbourhood, and on 20 June 2011 on the European Neighbourhood Policy, welcoming the proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) for a European Union Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean region.

(4)

The HR and the European Commission have put forward proposals for a Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity and a new approach to partnership with the Union’s neighbours through the European Neighbourhood Policy in their Communications of 8 March and 25 May 2011.

(5)

There is a need for enhanced diplomacy by the Union in the countries of the region in order to support an orderly transition to sustainable democracy, as well as human rights and the rule of law.

(6)

A European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Southern Mediterranean region should therefore be appointed.

(7)

The mandate of the EUSR will be implemented 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 the countries of the Southern Mediterranean region;

(b)

contributing to the response of the Union to the developments in the countries of the Southern Mediterranean region and, in particular, to 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 European Union’s effectiveness, presence and visibility in the region and in relevant international forums. 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 the Islamic Conference, the League of Arab States and the United Nations.

(a)

strengthen the overall political role of the Union with regard to the countries of the Southern Mediterranean region, in particular by enhancing dialogue with governments and international organisations, as well as with civil society and other relevant interlocutors, and promoting awareness among 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. Assist the HR, in coordination with the Commission, by contributing to the work of the Task Force for the Southern Mediterranean;

(e)

contribute to the implementation of the Union’s human rights policy in the region, including the Union’s Guidelines on human rights, in particular the Union’s Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, as well as 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, 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;

(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.