L 183/60 Official Journal of the European Union 24.6.2014 COUNCIL DECISION 2014/383/CFSP of 23 June 2014 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Afghanistan THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 31(2) and Article 33 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (I)  On 22 July 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/393/CFSP (') appointing Mr Franz-Michael SKJOLD MELLBIN as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Afghanistan. The EUSR’s mandate is to expire on 30 June 2014. (2)  The mandate of the EUSR should be extended for a further period of 8 months. (3)  The EUSR will implement the 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 The mandate of Mr Franz-Michael SKJOLD MELLBIN as the EUSR in Afghanistan is hereby extended until 28 February 2015. The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, based on an assess- ment by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR). Article 2 Policy objectives The EUSR shall represent the Union and promote Union policy objectives in Afghanistan, in close coordination with Member States’ representatives in Afghanistan. More specifically, the EUSR shall: (a) contribute to the implementation of the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration and of the EU Strategy in Afghani- stan 2014-16, and as appropriate, the EU-Afghan Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development; (b) support Union-Afghanistan political dialogue; (c) support the pivotal role played by the United Nations (UN) in Afghanistan with particular emphasis on contributing to better coordinated international assistance, thereby promoting the implementation of the Bonn, Chicago and Tokyo Conference Communiqués, as well as relevant UN Resolutions. Article 3 Mandate In order to fulfil the mandate, the EUSR shall, in close cooperation with Member States’ representatives in Afghanistan: (a) promote the views of the Union on the political process and developments in Afghanistan; (b) maintain close contact with, and support the development of, relevant Afghan institutions, in particular the Govern- ment and the Parliament as well as the local authorities. Contact should also be maintained with other Afghan poli- tical groups and other relevant actors in Afghanistan, in particular relevant civil society actors; () OJL198,23.7.2013, p. 47.