COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2021/470

of 18 March 2021

amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)

On 2 April 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 (1) appointing Mr Miroslav LAJČÁK as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, as amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1313 (2). The EUSR’s mandate is to expire on 31 March 2021.

(2)	The EUSR’s mandate should be extended for a further period of 17 months and a new financial reference amount for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 August 2022 should be established.

(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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 is amended as follows:

(1)

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Mr Miroslav LAJČÁK as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues is extended until 31 August 2022. The Council may decide that the EUSR’s mandate be terminated earlier, based on an assessment of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).’;

(2)	in Article 5(1), the following subparagraph is added: ‘The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR’s mandate for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 August 2022 shall be EUR 2 580 000.’;

(3)	in Article 13, the second sentence is replaced by the following: ‘The EUSR shall present the HR, the Council and the Commission with regular progress reports and a final comprehensive mandate implementation report by 31 May 2022.’.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 18 March 2021.

For the Council

The President

A. P. ZACARIAS

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 of 2 April 2020 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues (OJ L 105, 3.4.2020, p. 3).

(2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1313 of 21 September 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues (OJ L 308, 22.9.2020, p. 4).