L 187/44 Official Journal of the European Union 17.7.2012 COUNCIL DECISION 2012/390/CFSP of 16 July 2012 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative to the African Union THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28, 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: (1) On 20 October 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/697|CESP (') appointing Mr Gary QUINCE as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) to the African Union (AU). The EUSR’s mandate is to expire on 30 June 2012. (2)  The mandate of the EUSR should be extended for a further period of 12 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 Gary QUINCE as the EUSR to the AU is hereby extended until 30 June 2013. 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). Atticle 2 Policy objectives The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the Union's comprehensive policy objectives in support of African efforts to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future as set out in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. These objectives include: (a) enhancing the Union’s political dialogue and broader rela- tionship with the AU; (b) strengthening the Union-AU partnership in all areas outlined in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, contributing to the development and implementation of the Joint Africa- EU Strategy in partnership with the AU, respecting the principle of African ownership and working more closely with African representatives in multilateral fora in coor- dination with multilateral partners; () OJ L 276, 21.10.2011, p. 46. (c) working with, and providing support to the AU by supporting institutional development and strengthening the relationship between Union and AU institutions, including through development assistance, to promote: — peace and security: predict, prevent, manage, mediate and resolve conlflict, support efforts to promote peace and stability, support post-conflict reconstruction, — human rights and governance: promote and protect human rights; promote fundamental freedoms and respect for the rule of law; support, through political dialogue and financial and technical assistance, African efforts to monitor and improve governance; support growth of participatory democracy and accountability; support the fight against corruption and organised crime and further promote efforts to address the issue of children and armed conflict in all its aspects, — sustainable growth, regional integration and trade: support efforts towards interconnectivity and facilitate people’s access to water and sanitation, energy and information technology; promote a stable, efficient and harmonised legal business framework; assist to integrate Africa into the world trade system, assist African countries to comply with Union rules and stan- dards; support Africa in countering the effects of climate change, — investment in people: support efforts in the fields of gender, health, food security and education, promote exchange programmes, networks of universities and centres of excellence, address the root causes of migration. Furthermore, the EUSR will play a key role in implementing the Joint Africa-EU  Strategy intended to further develop and consolidate the strategic partnership between Africa and the Union. Article 3 Mandate In order to achieve the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)/Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) aspects of the objectives referred to in Article 2, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to: (a) strengthen the overall Union influence in, and coordination of, the Addis Ababa-based dialogue with the AU and its Commission, on the whole range of CFSP/ESDP issues covered by the Union-AU relationship, in particular the Peace and Security Partnership and support to the oper- ationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture;