Select Committee on European Scrutiny Thirty-Third Report


39 U Police Mission in Macedonia

(a)

(24891)


(b)

(24917)


Draft Council Joint Action for a possible European Union Police Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.


Council Decision concerning the appointment of the Head of Mission/Police Commissioner of the European Union Police Mission (EUPol) in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Legal baseArticle 14 EU; unanimity
DepartmentForeign and Commonwealth Office
Basis of considerationMinister's letters and EMs of 25 September and 2 October 2003
Previous Committee ReportNone
Discussed in CouncilAdopted at 29 September GAERC
Committee's assessmentPolitically important
Committee's decisionCleared, but further information requested

Background

39.1 On 17 September 2003, we considered a letter dated 10 September from the Minister for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane) in which he advised us that the EU was thinking of sending a police mission to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on 15 December.[82]

The Joint Action on the police mission

39.2 On 25 September the Minister submitted an Explanatory Memorandum on the draft Joint Action and said that he hoped that we would understand that, with Parliament in recess, it would be necessary to override scrutiny when the draft was put to the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 29 September for adoption by the Council. The decision had to be taken then to ensure that the planning process and the setting up of the mission, EUPol "Proxima", could start in good time. He stressed that, although it would follow the successful EU Military Mission, Operation Concordia, in FYROM, for which the mandate lasts until 15 December 2003, there would be no explicit link between the mandates of the two missions.

39.3 At the UK's request, a comprehensive risk assessment would be carried out as a priority in the planning process. The Minister said that this was intended to ensure that the planning phase took account of the fluid security situation on the ground.

39.4 The Minister attaches the final version of the Joint Action to his letter of 2 October. He says that it does not differ in any significant way from that submitted on 25 September. It sets out the broad mission statement and a basic structure, the chain of command and arrangements for the political oversight of the mission, primarily through the Political and Security Committee reporting to the Council. These follow closely the arrangements for the EU Police Mission in Bosnia. In its covering note to COREPER[83] on the draft Joint Action, the Presidency said that it envisaged that the mission would be composed of up to 180 police officers and 20 civilians.

39.5 The budget estimates are €7.3 million for start-up costs, to include planning costs of €420,000, and running costs for the first year of €7.4 million, plus €6.6million yearly for per diems.[84] Per diems for 2003 were set at €100 per person. They are quoted separately as it is not clear whether there will be sufficient funds in the 2004 CFSP budget for per diems. The Council will decide on the final amount for the year 2004, including the method of financing per diems, in December.

The Council Decision

39.6 The 29 September GAERC also adopted a Council Decision implementing the provision in the Joint Action for the appointment of a Police Head of Mission, on the basis of a proposal from the Secretary General/High Representative Javier Solana. It appoints Bart d'Hooge, a Belgian national and Head of the OSCE policing presence in FRYOM. He will head the EUPol "Proxima" planning team immediately and become Head of Mission when the Mission begins in December.

The Government's view

39.7 The Minister says that the EU's operations in FRYOM continue to ensure the EU's active involvement in developing a stable, secure environment to allow the Government of FYROM to implement the Ohrid Framework Agreement. This is the agreement which brought the crisis of 2001 to a close and which guarantees equality for ethnic Albanians. The Government supports "Proxima", since it sees a clear need for assistance with reform, training and the provision of advice in the policing sector. FYROM has already received help in some areas of police reform through the OSCE and bilateral projects and the new EUPol mission will take these into account. The Government is content that, by launching this mission, the EU is demonstrating its continued commitment to and involvement in the post-conflict stabilisation of FYROM.

39.8 On the financial implications, the Minister comments that the UK share is around 18%. If the UK decides to send any police officers or other personnel to the mission, it will bear that cost as well. He adds:

    "The Government supports the principle that all running costs for ESDP civilian operations should be funded from the Community budget (as set out in Article 28.3 TEU) as far as possible. But it will look at overall budget prioritisation for Category Four External Action, of which the CFSP budget is part, before taking a decision on this particular case".

39.9 In his Supplementary Memorandum of 2 October, the Minister supports the appointment of Bart d'Hooge, as Head of Mission. He enjoys the support of the EU Special Representative to FYROM and has experience of policing there.

Conclusion

39.10 We thank the Minister for providing us with advance warning of the Council's intention to establish this police mission and with a full account of the Government's view of it.

39.11 We ask the Minister whether, if it is decided that the running costs for this mission should be charged to Category Four of the Community Budget, the decision would have an impact on other external actions for which provision has been made and, if so, which actions would be affected.

39.12 We now clear both documents.


82   Not reported. Back

83   The Committee of Permanent Representatives. Back

84   Subsistence allowance for local expenses, usually including the cost of a hotel bed. Back


 
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