Council Decision of 15 July 2013 extending the period of application of the appropriate measures in Decision 2011/492/EU concerning Guinea-Bissau and amending that Decision (2013/385/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000⁽¹⁾ (‘the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’), as last amended in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 22 June 2010⁽²⁾, and in particular Article 96 thereof,

Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement⁽³⁾, and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

1. By Council Decision 2011/492/EU⁽⁴⁾, consultations with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau under Article 96 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement were concluded and appropriate measures, as specified in the Annex to that Decision, were taken.

2. By Council Decision 2012/387/EU⁽⁵⁾, Decision 2011/492/EU was extended by 12 months, until 19 July 2013.

3. The essential elements cited in Article 9 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement continue to be violated and the current conditions in Guinea-Bissau do not ensure respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.

4. Decision 2011/492/EU should therefore be amended to extend further the period of application of the appropriate measures,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: