Council Joint Action of 29 July 1999 confirming the appointment of the Special Representative of the European Union to act as Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe
L 201/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 7. 1999 Council Joint Action of 29 July 1999 confirming the appointment of the Special Representative of the European Union to act as Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (1999/523/CFSP) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, — participate in the High Level Steering Group of the donors Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in partic- ular Articles 14 and 18(5) thereof, Whereas: (1) (2) (3) On 10 June 1999 the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union and the Commission of together with the other the European Communities, participants for South-Eastern Europe agreed to establish a Stability Pact for South- Eastern Europe, hereinafter called the ‘Stability Pact’; in the Stability Pact appointed Mr 1999/345/CFSP (1) Bodo Decision Hombach as EU Special Representative to carry out the functions of Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, thereby enabling him to start this Decision expires on 31 July work immediately; 1999 unless confirmed by a Joint Action; On 19 July 1999 the Council requested its competent bodies to prepare a Joint Action to be adopted by the end of July 1999 confirming the appointment of Mr Hombach as EU Special Representative and providing him with the necessary human and logistical resources to carry out this task, HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION: Article 1 1. This Joint Action confirms the appointment of Mr Bodo Hombach as EU Special Representative to carry out the func- tions of Special Coordinator for the Stability Pact for South- Eastern Europe according to the arrangements provided for in point 13 of the Stability Pact document. The Special Coordinator shall carry out the tasks envis- 2. aged by the Stability Pact, as follows: — promote achievement of the Pact's objectives within, and between, the individual countries; — chair the South-Eastern Europe Regional Table; — establish and maintain close contact with all participants and facilitating States, organisations and institutions of the Stability Pact, as well as pertinent regional initiatives and organisations; — provide periodic progress reports to the OSCE Chairman in Office, according to its procedures, on behalf of the South- Eastern Europe Regional Table; (1) OJ L 168, 3. 7. 1999, p. 34. coordination process; — cooperate closely with all EU institutions in order to promote the EU role in the Stability Pact according to points 18, 19 and 20 of the Stability Pact document; — meet periodically and as necessary with the Chairmen of the Working Tables to ensure overall coordination; — assure the Secretariat of the South-Eastern Europe Regional Table and the three Working Tables. 3. To this end, the EU shall, by providing its Special Repres- entative with the necessary human and logistical resources, make a substantial contribution to his functions also as Special Coordinator. The European Union looks to the other partici- pants in the Stability Pact also to make an equitable contribu- tion to the functioning of the Pact. The Special Representative and his staff will be based in Brussels. Article 2 1. The EU Special Representative and the EU Special Repres- entative for the Royaumont process shall coordinate their action. The EU Special Representative shall liaise closely with the 2. Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU Special Representative shall also liaise closely 3. with the United Nations Civil Administration in Kosovo. Article 3 1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the costs related to the mission of the EU Special Representative shall be EUR 850 000 for the period ending on 31 December 1999. The amount specified in paragraph 1 shall be allocated to 2. finance the infrastructure and current expenditure of the Special Representative, including his salary and a special allow- ance as well as salaries of his support staff not covered by secondment plus a start-up amount, pending burden-sharing arrangements with other Stability Pact participants, to initiate work necessary for the early implementation of the Stability Pact. Member States and EU institutions may propose the secondment of staff to work with the Special Representative. The remuneration of personnel who might be seconded by a Member State or an EU institution to the Special Representative shall be covered respectively by the Member State or the EU institution concerned. 31. 7. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 201/3 The Council notes that the Presidency, Commission 3. and/or Member States, as appropriate, will provide logistical support in the region. The privileges, immunities and further guarantees neces- 4. sary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the Special Representative and the members of his staff shall be defined with the parties. Member States and the Commis- sion shall grant all necessary support to such effect. Article 5 This Joint Action shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. This Joint Action shall apply until 31 December 1999, unless renewed subject to a review including administrative and finan- cial aspects. This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal. Article 6 Article 4 Done at Brussels, 29 July 1999. The EU Special Representative shall be guided by, and report under the authority of, the Presidency, assisted by the Secretary General to, the Council on a regular basis and as the need arises. The Commission shall be fully associated. For the Council The President T. HALONEN