Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2113

of 9 December 2019

amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 19 December 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356(1).

(2) Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 provides for a 36-month implementation period for the activities referred to in Article 1 thereof from the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3) thereof.

(3) On 13 November 2019, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting on behalf of the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), requested the authorisation of the Union to extend the implementation period of Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 by five months.

(4) The requested amendment of Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 concerns Article 5(2) thereof, and Section 6 of the Annex to that Decision where the reference to the duration of the project should be modified.

(5) The continuation of the activities referred to in Article 1 of Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356, as specifically mentioned in the request made by the UNDP on behalf of SEESAC on 13 November 2019, could be performed without any resource implication.

(6) Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 should therefore be amended to enable the continued implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1 of that Decision, by extending its duration accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1U.K.

Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356 is hereby amended as follows:

(1)

Article 5(2) is replaced by the following:

‘2.This Decision shall expire 41 months after the date of the conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 3(3) or, if no agreement has been concluded within that period, six months after the date of its entry into force.’

(2)

The text of Section 6 of the Annex is replaced by the following:

‘6.

Duration

Based on the experience of implementing Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP, and taking into consideration the regional scope of the project, the number of beneficiaries and the number and the complexity of planned activities, the timeframe for implementation is 41 months.’

Article 2U.K.

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 9 December 2019.

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES