The mandate of Mr Peter SEMNEBY as the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus is hereby extended until 31 August 2010. The mandate of the EUSR may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a recommendation of the HR following the entry into force of the decision establishing the European External Action Service.
2010/109/CFSP: Council Decision 2010/109/CFSP of 22 February 2010 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus
2010/109/CFSP: Council Decision 2010/109/CFSP of 22 February 2010 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Articles 28, 31(2) and 33 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
On 20 February 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/121/CFSP(1) appointing Mr Peter SEMNEBY European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus.
On 16 February 2009, the Council adopted Joint Action 2009/133/CFSP(2) amending and extending the mandate of the EUSR until 28 February 2010.
The mandate of the EUSR should be extended until 31 August 2010. However, the mandate of the EUSR may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a recommendation of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) following the entry into force of the decision establishing the European External Action Service.
The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could harm the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1 European Union Special Representative
Article 2 Policy objectives
1.
The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the policy objectives of the European Union for the South Caucasus. These objectives include:
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to assist Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in carrying out political and economic reforms, notably in the fields of rule of law, democratisation, human rights, good governance, development and poverty reduction;
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in accordance with existing mechanisms, to prevent conflicts in the region, to contribute to the peaceful settlement of conflicts, including through promoting the return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
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to engage constructively with main interested actors concerning the region;
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to encourage and to support further cooperation between States of the region, in particular between the States of the South Caucasus, including on economic, energy and transport issues;
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to enhance the effectiveness and visibility of the Union in the region.
2.
The EUSR shall support the work of the HR in the region.
Article 3 Mandate
In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:
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develop contacts with governments, parliaments, the judiciary and civil society in the region;
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encourage Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to cooperate on regional themes of common interest, such as common security threats, the fight against terrorism, trafficking and organised crime;
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contribute to the prevention of conflicts and to assist in creating the conditions for progress on settlement of conflicts, including through recommendations for action related to civil society and rehabilitation of territories, without prejudice to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
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contribute to the settlement of conflicts and to facilitate the implementation of such settlement in close coordination with the United Nations Secretary-General and the UN Mobile Team, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its Minsk Group;
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provide the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) with local political guidance;
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intensify the Union’s dialogue with the main actors concerned regarding the region;
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assist the Council in further developing a comprehensive policy towards the South Caucasus;
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through a support team:
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provide the Union with reporting and a continued assessment of the border situation,
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facilitate confidence-building between Georgia and the Russian Federation, thereby ensuring efficient cooperation and liaison with all relevant actors,
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establish relevant contacts in the conflict regions, thereby enabling the support team to contribute to confidence-building and to assess border-related issues in those regions, after terms of reference have been agreed with the Georgian government and consultations held with all parties concerned (excluding operational field activities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia),
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assist the Georgian Border Police and other relevant government institutions in Tbilisi in the implementation of the comprehensive integrated border management strategy,
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work with the Georgian authorities to increase communication between Tbilisi and the border, including mentoring. This shall be done by liaison and by working closely with all levels of the chain of command between Tbilisi and the border (excluding operational field activities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia);
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contribute to the implementation of the EU human rights policy and EU Guidelines on Human Rights, in particular with regard to children and women in conflict affected areas, especially by monitoring and addressing developments in this regard.
Article 4 Implementation of the mandate
1.
The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of the mandate, acting under the authority of the HR.
2.
The Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall maintain a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the EUSR’s primary point of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide the EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the framework of the mandate, without prejudice to the powers of the HR.