12.2.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 41/13 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION 2014/75/CFSP of 10 February 2014 on the European Union Institute for Security Studies THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28 and Article 31(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1)  On 20 July 2001, the Council adopted Joint Action 2001/554/CESP (1). (2)  The European Union Institute for Security Studies (the Institute’) should assist the European Union and its Member States in the implementation of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including the common security and defence policy (CSDP), as well as other external action of the Union, under the political supervision of the Council and the operational direction of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR). (3)  The Institute should have legal personality and work in complete intellectual independence, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Council and of the HR. (40 On 20 September 2011, pursuant to Article 19 of Joint Action 2001/554/CFSP, the HR presented a report to the Council on the review of the functioning of the Institute. The Political and Security Committee (PSC) took note of that report and, on 1 February 2012, recommended that the Council amend Joint Action 2001/554/CFSP. (5) It is appropriate, for reasons of legal clarity, to consolidate previous amendments and the additional proposed changes into one single new decision, and to repeal Joint Action 2001/554/CFSP, (") Council Joint Action 2001/554/CFSP of 20 July 2001 on the estab- lishment of a European Union Institute for Security Studies (O] L 200, 25.7.2001, p. 1). HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atticle 1 Continuity and location 1. The European Union Institute for Security Studies estab- lished by Joint Action 2001/554/CFSP (the Institute) shall hereby continue its activities in accordance with this Decision. 2. All existing rights and obligations and all rules adopted in the framework of Joint Action 2001/554/CFSP shall remain unaffected. In particular, all existing employment contracts shall remain valid and all rights arising therefrom shall continue to exist. 3. The Institute shall have its headquarters in Paris. In order to facilitate the organisation of activities in Brussels, the Institute shall have a liaison office in Brussels. The Institute’s organisation shall be flexible, with a particular attention paid to quality and efficiency, including as regards staffing levels. Article 2 Mission and tasks 1. The Institute shall, in close cooperation with Member States, contribute to the development of EU strategic thinking in the field of the Union’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and common security and defence policy (CSDP), including conflict prevention and peace-building, as well as in the field of other external action of the Union, with a view to strengthening the EU’s analysis, foresight and networking capacity in external action. 2. The Institute’s activities shall focus on the conduct of policy-oriented  analysis, information, dissemination and debate, on the organisation of networking events and work- shops, and on the collection of relevant documentation for Union and Member States’ officials and experts. 3. The Institute shall also promote contacts with academia, think tanks and relevant civil society actors across the European continent, the Atlantic and the wider international community, acting as an interface between the Union institutions and the world of external experts, including security actors.