17.3.2015 Official Journal of the European Union L 72/27 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 201 5/439 of 16 March 2015 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (I)  On 18 March 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/133/CESP (') appointing Mr Michel Dominique REVEYRAND — DE MENTHON as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel. The EUSR’s mandate has been extended by Council Decision 2014/130/CESP (3 and is to expire on 28 February 2015. (2)  The mandate of the EUSR should be extended for a further period of 8 months. (3)  The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union’s external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 European Union Special Representative 1. The mandate of Mr Michel Dominique REVEYRAND — DE MENTHON as the EUSR for the Sahel is extended until 31 October 2015. The mandate of the EUSR may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR). 2. For the purposes of the EUSR’s mandate, the Sahel is defined as comprising the primary focus of the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel (the ‘Strategy’), namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. For issues with broader regional implications, the EUSR shall engage with other countries and regional or international entities beyond the Sahel, and also West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, as appropriate. 3. Inview of the need for a regional approach to the inter-related challenges facing the region, the EUSR for the Sahel shall work in close consultation with other relevant EUSRs, including the EUSR for the Southern Mediterranean region, the EUSR for Human Rights and the EUSR to the African Union. Article 2 Policy objectives 1. The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the policy objective of the Union in relation to the Sahel to contribute actively to regional and international efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and development in the region. The EUSR shall furthermore aim to enhance the quality, intensity and impact of the Union’s multi-faceted engagement in the Sahel. 2. The EUSR shall contribute to developing and implementing the Union approach encompassing all aspects of Union action, in particular in the political, security and development areas, including the Strategy, and to coordinating all relevant instruments for Union actions. 3. Initial priority shall be given to Mali and to its long-term stabilisation and to the regional dimensions of the conflict there. (") Council Decision 2013/133/CFSP of 18 March 2013 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel (O] L 75, 19.3.2013,p. 29). (%) Council Decision 2014/130/CFSP of 10 March 2014 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel (OJL71,12.3.2014, p. 14).