Council Decision 2011/426/CFSP of 18 July 2011 appointing the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr Peter SØRENSEN is hereby appointed as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 1 September 2011 until 30 June 2015. The mandate of the EUSR may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).

The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the following policy objectives of the Union in BiH: continued progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multiethnic and united BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards membership of the Union. The Union will also continue to support the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in BiH.

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:

1. offer the Union’s advice and facilitate the political process;

2. ensure consistency and coherence of Union action;

3. facilitate progress on political, economic and European priorities;

4. monitor and advise the executive and legislative authorities at all levels of government in BiH, and liaise with the authorities and political parties in BiH;

5. ensure the implementation of the Union’s efforts in the whole range of activities in the field of the rule of law and the security sector reform, promote overall Union coordination of, and give local political direction to Union efforts in tackling organised crime and corruption and, in this context, provide the HR and the Commission with assessments and advice as necessary;

6. provide the Head of Mission of the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) with local political guidance; the EUSR and the Civilian Operation Commander shall consult each other as required; consult with the Head of the EUPM before taking political action that may have an impact on the police and security situation; provide support for a reinforced and more effective interface between criminal justice and the police in BiH, in close liaison with the EUPM;

7. without prejudice to the military chain of command, offer the EU Force Commander political guidance on military issues with a local political dimension, in particular concerning sensitive operations, relations with local authorities and with the local media. Consult with the EU Force Commander before taking political action that may have an impact on the security situation;

8. coordinate and implement the Union’s communication efforts on Union issues towards the public in BiH;

9. promote the process of integration with the Union through targeted public diplomacy and Union outreach activities designed to ensure a broader understanding and support from the BiH public on matters relating to the Union, including by means of engagement of local civil-society actors;

10. contribute to the development and consolidation of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in BiH, in accordance with the Union’s human rights policy and the Union Guidelines on Human Rights;

11. engage with relevant BiH authorities on their full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY);

12. in line with the Union integration process, advise, assist, facilitate and monitor political dialogue on the necessary constitutional changes;

13. maintain close contacts and consultations with the High Representative in BiH and other relevant international organisations working in the country;

14. provide advice to the HR as necessary concerning natural or legal persons on whom restrictive measures could be imposed in view of the situation in BiH;

15. without prejudice to the applicable chains of command, help to ensure that all Union instruments in the field are applied coherently to attain the Union’s policy objectives.