Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2700 of 4 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 establishing a European Security and Defence College

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 42(4) thereof,

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

Whereas:

On 19 October 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515⁽¹⁾.
The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) has significantly expanded its activities in recent years and hosts an increased number of national experts seconded to it by the Member States, following numerous requests for new training and education activities.
The ESDC needs to strengthen its administrative support structure accordingly, including to ensure its further operationalisation in order to meet its objectives.
A new financial reference amount for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 should be established.
Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Article 16 of Decision (CFSP) 2020/1515 is replaced by the following:

Contribution from the general budget of the European Union
1.
The ESDC shall receive an annual or multi-annual contribution from the general budget of the European Union. That contribution may cover, in particular, the costs of:

supporting training and education activities;

national experts seconded by the Member States to the ESDC;

up to four contract staff members employed by the ESDC or seconded by the EEAS to the ESDC, at the request of the Head of the ESDC and subject to the approval of the Steering Committee of the ESDC; for the purpose of their secondment to the ESDC, the contract staff seconded by the EEAS shall be employed under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68.

2.
The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure of the ESDC during the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 shall be EUR 2 933 304,01.

3.
The financial reference amount to cover the expenditure of the ESDC for subsequent periods shall be decided by the Council.

4.
Following the decision by the Council referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3, a financing agreement shall be concluded between the ESDC and the Commission.’.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 4 December 2023.

For the Council

The President

O. Puente Santiago