POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2015/1916

of 20 October 2015

on the establishment of the Committee of Contributors for the European Union CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) (EUCAP Sahel Mali/3/2015)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2014/219/CFSP of 15 April 2014 on the European Union CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) (1),

Whereas:

(1)	Pursuant to Article 10(3) of Decision 2014/219/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (‘PSC’) to take relevant decisions on the establishment of a Committee of Contributors (‘CoC’) for EUCAP Sahel Mali.

(2)

The European Council Conclusions of Göteborg of 15 and 16 June 2001 established guiding principles and arrangements for third States' contributions to police missions. On 10 December 2002, the Council approved a document entitled ‘Consultations and Modalities for the Contribution of non-EU States to EU civilian crisis management operations’ which further developed the arrangements for the participation of third States in civilian crisis management operations, including the establishment of a CoC.

(3)	The CoC should be a forum for discussing all problems relating to EUCAP Sahel Mali's day-to-day management with the contributing third States. The PSC, which exercises the political control and strategic direction of EUCAP Sahel Mali, should take account of the views expressed by the CoC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Establishment

1. A Committee of Contributors (‘CoC’) for the European Union CSDP mission in Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) is hereby established.

2. The terms of reference of the CoC are laid down in the document entitled ‘Consultations and Modalities for the Contribution of non-EU States to EU civilian crisis management operations’.

Article 2

Composition

1. The CoC members shall be the following:

(a)	representatives of all Member States; and

(b)	representatives of third States participating in EUCAP Sahel Mali and providing contributions.

2. A representative of the European Commission may also attend the CoC's meetings.

Article 3

Information from the Head of Mission

The Head of Mission shall regularly send information to the CoC.

Article 4

Chair

The CoC shall be chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy or by his or her representative.

Article 5

Meetings

1. The CoC shall be convened by the Chair on a regular basis. Where circumstances require, emergency meetings may be convened on the Chair's initiative, or at the request of a member.

2. The Chair shall circulate in advance a provisional agenda and documents relating to the meeting. The Chair shall be responsible for conveying the outcome of the CoC's discussions to the PSC.

Article 6

Confidentiality

1. In accordance with Council Decision 2013/488/EU (2), the Council's security rules shall apply to the meetings and proceedings of the CoC. In particular, representatives in the CoC shall possess adequate security clearance.

2. The deliberations of the CoC shall be covered by the obligation of professional secrecy, except in so far as the CoC unanimously decides otherwise.

Article 7

Entry into force

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

Done at Brussels, 20 October 2015.

For the Political and Security Committee

The Chairperson

W. STEVENS

(1) OJ L 113, 16.4.2014, p. 21.

(2) Council Decision 2013/488/EU of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (OJ L 274, 15.10.2013, p. 1).