Council Decision 2012/173/CFSP
Substituted by Council Decision 2014/860/CFSP of 1 December 2014 amending and extending Decision 2012/173/CFSP on the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operation in the Horn of Africa.
of 23 March 2012
on the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operation in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 42(4) and 43(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 17 December 2004, the European Council endorsed the proposals allowing for the establishment of an operations centre and its terms of reference.
(2) On 18 June 2007, the Council approved the Guidelines for Command and Control Structure for the EU Civilian Operations in Crisis Management.
(3) On 7 April 2008, by Decision 2008/298/CFSP the Council amended Decision 2001/80/CFSP of 22 January 2001 on the establishment of the Military Staff of the European Union to specify, inter alia, the tasks of the Military Staff of the European Union (EUMS) in relation to the EU Operations Centre.
OJ L 102, 12.4.2008, p. 25.
OJ L 27, 30.1.2001, p. 7.
(4) On 10 November 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/851/CFSP establishing operation Atalanta with the purpose of deterring piracy off the Somali coast.
OJ L 301, 12.11.2008, p. 33.
(5) On 15 February 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/96/CFSP on an EU military mission to contribute to the training of Somali security forces (EUTM Somalia).
OJ L 44, 19.2.2010, p. 16.
(6) On 14 November 2011, the Council adopted a Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa to guide the EU’s engagement in the region.
(7) On 1 December 2011, the Council agreed to accelerate planning for the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Horn of Africa Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operation, in accordance with its terms of reference.
(8) On 16 December 2011, the Council agreed the Crisis Management Concept for the Regional Maritime Capacity Building (RMCB) mission, as a civilian CSDP mission with military expertise.
(9) On 23 January 2012, the Council agreed that the EU Operations Centre should be activated for the Horn of Africa CSDP missions and operation.
(10) The EU Operations Centre should facilitate coordination and improve synergies amongst the Horn of Africa CSDP missions and operation, in the context of the Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa and in close liaison with the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Horn of Africa.
(11) The EU Operations Centre should be supported by the existing structures of the EUMS, reinforced by the EUTM Somalia Support Element and the Atalanta Liaison Team.
(12) Bearing in mind the requirement to optimise its support for all CSDP missions and operations, the EUMS should provide support to the EU Operations Centre within its means and capabilities,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Activation of the EU Operations Centre
1. The EU Operations Centre shall support the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions EUTM Somalia, EUCAP Nestor and operation Atalanta in the Horn of Africa and it shall support the CSDP missions EUTM Mali, EUCAP Sahel Niger and EUCAP Sahel Mali in the Sahel region.
2. The activation of the EU Operations Centre shall be without prejudice to the respective military and civilian chains of command of the missions and the operation, referred to in paragraph 1.

Article 2 Mandate and tasks
1. The EU Operations Centre shall provide support in the field of operational planning and conduct of the CSDP missions and operation in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region with a view to increasing efficiency, coherence and synergies for CSDP within both regions. In this framework the EU Operations Centre shall facilitate information exchange, improve coordination and strengthen civil-military synergies.
2. The EU Operations Centre shall perform the following tasks:
(a) provide direct support to the Civilian Operations Commander for the operational planning and conduct of the civilian missions in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region, using its military and specialised planning expertise;
(b) provide support to the military Missions and Operation Commanders in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region;
(c) provide support to the Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD), at its request, in its strategic planning for the CSDP missions and operation in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region;
(d) facilitate interaction between the respective CSDP missions and operation and the Brussels-based structures. In relation to the ‘ train and equip ’ pilot cases in Mali and Somalia, the EU Operations Centre may usefully provide support to a functional coordination mechanism, in view of its implementation plan;
(e) facilitate coordination and improve synergies amongst the CSDP missions and operation in the Horn of Africa, in the context of the Horn of Africa Strategy and in liaison with the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Horn of Africa and the European Union Special Envoy for Somalia;
(f) facilitate coordination and improve synergies amongst the CSDP missions in the Sahel region, in the context of the Sahel Strategy and in liaison with the EUSR for the Sahel.
3. The implementation of the mandate and tasks shall be elaborated in an implementation plan to be presented to the PSC and subject to review.

Article 3 Head of the EU Operations Centre
1. The Council hereby authorises the PSC, in accordance with Article 38 of the Treaty, to take decisions on the appointment of the Head of the EU Operations Centre.
2. The Head of the EU Operations Centre shall carry out his functions under the political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee (PSC), and, as appropriate, under the military direction of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC).
3. The Head of the EU Operations Centre shall exercise authority over the staff of the EU Operations Centre for all issues related to the mandate and tasks of the EU Operations Centre.
4. The Head of the EU Operations Centre shall be responsible for responding to the requests addressed to the EU Operations Centre by the Civilian Operation Commander, the Operation- and Mission Commanders of the CSDP missions in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region and by CMPD. He shall ensure the proper functioning of the EU Operations Centre and coordinate the efficient use of its capacities. The final responsibility for operational planning documents and decisions on the conduct of the missions and the operation shall remain respectively with the Civilian Operation Commander and the respective Operation- and Mission Commanders in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region.
5. Within the limits of his responsibility, the Head of the EU Operations Centre shall regularly report to PSC and to the EUMC as appropriate.

Article 4 Staff
1. The EU Operations Centre shall be comprised of staff seconded by Member States and provided by the EUMS. The relevant liaison and support cells of the military missions and operation in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel region shall be integrated into the EU Operations Centre, without prejudice to the current chains of command.
2. The human resources put at the disposal of the EU Operations Centre shall cover all military expertise required to implement its mandate and tasks properly on the basis of an implementation plan. The precise definition of the expertise required shall be the responsibility of the Head of the EU Operations Centre, in close consultation with the Operation and Mission Commanders, the Civilian Operation Commander, and the EUMS.
3. All staff must respect the security principles and minimum standards established by Council Decision 2013/488/EU .
Council Decision 2013/488/EU of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information ( OJ L 274, 15.10.2013, p. 1 ).

Article 5 Organisation
The EU Operations Centre shall be organised along functional and geographical responsibilities corresponding to the requirements of the CSDP missions and operation which it supports.

Article 6 Support by the EUMS
The EUMS shall, within its means and capabilities, provide support to the EU Operations Centre in accordance with its terms of reference through:
(a) ensuring availability and readiness of the staff, facilities and equipment of the EU Operations Centre;
(b) maintaining, updating and replacing the equipment of the EU Operations Centre;
(c) maintaining the premises used by the EU Operations Centre.

Article 7 Financing
1. The staff provided by EUMS shall be financed in accordance with the rules applicable to the EUMS.
2. The staff provided by Member States shall be seconded national experts on free secondment.
3. Travel and other costs not covered by the budgets of the respective CSDP mission and operation shall be borne by the budget of the European External Action Service, subject to the applicable financial rules.

Article 8 Review
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Deleted by Council Decision 2014/860/CFSP of 1 December 2014 amending and extending Decision 2012/173/CFSP on the activation of the EU Operations Centre for the Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operation in the Horn of Africa.

Article 9 Entry into force and duration
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
It shall apply from 23 March 2012 until 31 December 2016 .