Council Decision of 24 June 2014 on the arrangements for the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause (2014/415/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first sentence of Article 222(3) thereof,

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

Whereas:

1. This Decision concerns the implementation by the Union of Article 222 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) (‘the solidarity clause’). It does not concern the implementation by Member States of the solidarity clause pursuant to Article 222(2) TFEU. According to Declaration (No 37) on Article 222 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a Member State can choose the most appropriate means to comply with its own solidarity obligation towards another Member State.

2. Pursuant to Article 222(1) TFEU, the Union and the Member States are to act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. Coherence and complementarity of Union and Member States' action should be sought, to the benefit of any Member State invoking the solidarity clause and to avoid duplication of efforts. Given that Member States are to coordinate between themselves in the Council in order to comply with their own solidarity obligations pursuant to Article 222(2) TFEU, it is appropriate to have arrangements for coordination in the Council in respect of the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause.

3. Arrangements for coordination in the Council should rely on the EU Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) Arrangements, approved by the Council on 25 June 2013, which state that the IPCR is also to support the arrangements for the implementation of the solidarity clause. It is appropriate that the Council adapts the IPCR arrangements, in particular in the case of a review.

4. The implementation of the solidarity clause by the Union should rely on existing instruments to the extent possible, should increase effectiveness by enhancing coordination and avoiding duplication, should function on the basis of no additional resources, should provide a simple and clear interface at Union level to Member States, and should respect the competences conferred upon each Union institution and service.

5. The solidarity clause calls for the Union to mobilise all the instruments at its disposal. Relevant instruments include the European Union Internal Security Strategy, the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism established by Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and the Council⁽¹⁾ (‘the Union Mechanism’), Decision No 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council⁽²⁾ and the structures developed in the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

6. The scope of the arrangements for the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause should be clearly defined.

7. As regards the fight against terrorism, the strategic framework for Union action is the European Union Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Various instruments are in place, such as instruments strengthening the protection of critical infrastructures in energy and transport⁽³⁾. Actions have also been taken following the Commission's Communication entitled ‘The EU Counter-Terrorism Policy: main achievements and future challenges’, for instance actions enhancing the cooperation between law enforcement authorities, reinforcing the prevention of radicalisation, in particular through the setting up of the Radicalisation Awareness Network, and limiting the access of terrorists to funds as well as to explosives⁽⁴⁾ and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials, as well as actions enhancing the security of explosives.

8. An invocation mechanism and a phasing-out mechanism for the arrangements under this Decision should be defined at Union level, based on a high-level political request from the Member State concerned and supported by a single entry point at Union level.

9. Response arrangements at Union level should improve effectiveness through strengthened coordination, building on existing instruments.

10. The Union Mechanism aims to strengthen cooperation between the Member States and the Union and to facilitate coordination in the field of civil protection. Decision No 1313/2013/EU established the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (the ‘ERCC’) that is to ensure 24/7 operational capacity and serve the Member States and the Commission in pursuit of the objectives of the Union Mechanism.

11. The European External Action Service (EEAS) has at its disposal structures with intelligence and military expertise, as well as the network of Delegations that may also contribute in the response to threats or disasters in the territory of Member States or to crises having an external dimension. Depending on the crisis, other structures and Union agencies in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) including the CSDP should provide, as appropriate, contributions in line with relevant provisions of Union law.

12. Where necessary and practicable in view of urgency, the response arrangements at Union level should be complemented by the adoption of legal acts or the amendment of existing acts in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties.

13. This Decision will have no defence implications. In the event that a crisis requires CFSP or CSDP action, a decision should be taken by the Council in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties.

14. This Decision is without prejudice to Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union.

15. The Commission Communication entitled ‘EU Internal Security Strategy in Action: Five steps towards a more secure Europe’ set the objective of increasing the Union's resilience to crises and disasters through a number of actions, including by making full use of the solidarity clause. As recalled by the Council in its Conclusions of 24 and 25 February 2011, increasing Europe's resilience to crises and disasters is crucial in further strengthening freedom, security and justice in the Union.

16. The European Council is to regularly assess the threats facing the Union in order to enable the Union and its Member States to take effective action. Upon request from the European Council, reports on specified threats should be produced.

17. In accordance with point (a) of Article 346(1) TFEU, no Member State is to be obliged to supply information the disclosure of which it considers contrary to the essential interests of its security.

18. On 22 November 2012, the European Parliament adopted resolution 2012/2223, entitled ‘EU's mutual defence and solidarity clauses: political and operational dimensions’.

19. This Decision respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and it should be applied in accordance with those rights and principles.

20. Since the objective of this Decision, namely implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective,

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