THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and in particular Article 28 and 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) In its Resolution 1996 (2011), adopted on 8 July 2011, the United Nations Security Council welcomed the establishment of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011 upon its proclamation as an independent State and underscored the need for forging stronger and well-defined partnerships among the United Nations, development agencies, bilateral partners, and other relevant actors, regional and sub-regional institutions and the international financial institutions, to implement national strategies aimed at effective institution building, which are based on national ownership, the achievement of results, and mutual accountability.
(2) On 20 June 2011, the Council agreed to follow a comprehensive approach to Sudan and South Sudan with, inter alia, the aim of assisting South Sudan to become a viable, stable, and prosperous state. The Comprehensive Approach set out, as a short-term option, the possible deployment of a civilian common security and defence policy (CSDP) mission to strengthen airport security and, as a medium-term option, the contribution to broader border management in South Sudan.
(3) On 19 July 2011, on behalf of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), the South Sudanese Minister for Transport and Roads addressed a letter to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) welcoming the Union’s proposal to contribute to the strengthening of the security at Juba International Airport (JIA) in order to raise it to internationally accepted standards, through the deployment of a CSDP mission.
(4) On 23 January 2012 the Council approved the Crisis Management Concept for a European Union Aviation Security CSDP mission in South Sudan (EUAVSEC-South Sudan).
(5) The Watch-Keeping Capability should be activated for EUAVSEC-South Sudan.
(6) EUAVSEC-South Sudan will be conducted 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 on European Union (TEU),
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: