Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2803 of 11 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2022/151 on a European Union action to support the evacuation of certain particularly vulnerable persons from Afghanistan

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

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

Whereas:

1. On 3 February 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/151⁽¹⁾ on a Union action to support the evacuation of certain particularly vulnerable persons from Afghanistan by 31 December 2022. That action was extended until 31 December 2023 by means of Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2442⁽²⁾.

2. Since 1 June 2021, the European External Action Service (EEAS) has organised and managed the evacuation of Afghans, in particular those who worked for the EU Special Representative in Afghanistan, appointed by means of Council Joint Action 2001/875/CFSP⁽³⁾, or for the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL Afghanistan), established by Council Joint Action 2007/369/CFSP⁽⁴⁾, and other particularly vulnerable Afghans who collaborated with the Union, as well as their dependent close relatives.

3. A list of persons eligible for evacuation under Decision (CFSP) 2022/151 (‘the list’) has been established and updated by the EEAS.

4. Due to the situation in Afghanistan, the evacuation of persons on the list, who are still at risk while in Afghanistan, cannot be completed by 31 December 2023.

5. The action under Decision (CFSP) 2022/151 should be extended until 31 December 2024,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: