3.12.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 318/19 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 17 November 2003 creating a team to prepare for the establishment of the agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments (2003/834/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 28(1) thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, in particular Article 207(2), thereof, Whereas: (1) On 19 and 20 June 2003, the European Council of Thessaloniki ‘tasked the appropriate bodies of the Council to undertake the necessary actions towards creating, in the course of 2004, an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments’, to be set up under the Council's authority and open to participation by all Member States. (2)  The draft treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe elaborated by the European Convention, as presented during the European Council at Thessaloniki, provides for the establishment of a European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency to identify operational requirements, to promote measures to satisfy those requirements, to contribute to identifying and, where appropriate, implementing any measure needed to strengthen the industrial and technological base of the defence sector, to participate in defining a European capabilities and armaments policy, and to assist the Council in evaluating the improvement of military capabilities. (3) By Decision 2003/664/EC (!) the Committee of Perma- nent Representatives set up an ad hoc preparation group to carry out work towards the creation of the agency. () OJ L 235, 23.9.2003, p. 22. (4) A preparatory team of experts should be set up in order to carry out further preparatory work for the establish- ment of the agency, in accordance with the Council conclusions of 17 and 18 November 2003 and the report annexed thereto; this team will support the Council and its competent bodies in their work towards the establishment of the Agency, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Atrticle 1 An Agency Establishment Team (AET) to prepare the condi- tions for the operational setting-up and working of the agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acqui- sition, and armaments is hereby created. The mandate, including the mission and the composition of the AET, is set out in the Annex to this decision. Atticle 2 The AET will be part of the General Secretariat of the Council. It will be set up by the Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR) and will work under his authority. Atticle 3 National experts for the AET will be seconded from Member States and Acceding States to the Council Secretariat. The selec- tion procedure and criteria are set out in the Annex.