Council Decision

of 16 July 2012

extending the period of application of the appropriate measures laid down for the Republic of Guinea in Decision 2011/465/EU and amending that Decision

(2012/404/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 20001, as last amended in Ouagadougou on 22 June 20102 (‘the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’), and in particular Article 96 thereof,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement3, and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)
Council Decision 2011/465/EU4 lays down appropriate measures for the Republic of Guinea under Article 96 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.
(2)

Decision 2011/465/EU requires that two benchmarks be achieved before cooperation with the Republic of Guinea under the 10th European Development Fund can be resumed; namely that a detailed timetable including preliminary dates and stages/preparatory operations be drawn up and adopted by the competent authorities for the holding of parliamentary elections by the end of 2011, and that free and transparent parliamentary elections be held.

(3)

To date, neither of these benchmarks has been met.

(4)

It is therefore necessary to extend the period of application of the appropriate measures laid down in Decision 2011/465/EU and to extend the time-limit set in those measures for the holding of parliamentary elections in the Republic of Guinea until the end of 2012,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: