17 EU and Moldova
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| Council Joint Action amending the mandate of the Special Representative of the European Union for Moldova
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| Legal base | Articles 14, 18(5) and 23(2) TEC; QMV
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| Document originated | —
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| Deposited in Parliament | 19 October 2005
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| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 20 October 2005
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | 7 November General Affairs and External Relations Council
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
17.1 EU Special Representatives (EUSR) are appointed to represent
Common Foreign and Security Policy where the Council agrees that
an additional EU presence on the ground is needed to deliver the
political objectives of the Union. They were established under
Article 18 of the Amsterdam Treaty and are appointed by the Council.
The aim of the EUSRs is to represent the EU in troubled regions
and countries and to play an active part in promoting the interests
and the policies of the EU.
17.2 An EUSR is appointed by Council through the
legal act of a Joint Action. The substance of his or her mandate
depends on the political context of the deployment. Some provide
a political backing to an ESDP operation; others focus on carrying
out or contribute to developing an EU policy. All EUSRs carry
out their duties under the authority and operational direction
of the High Representative (Javier Solana). An EUSR is financed
out of the CFSP budget implemented by the Commission. Member states
contribute regularly, e.g. through seconding some of the EUSR's
staff members.
17.3 Currently the European Union has seven Special
Representatives in different regions of the world. Adriaan Jacobovits
de Szeged was appointed EU Special Representative for Moldova on 23
March 2005, to strengthen the EU contribution to the resolution
of the Transnistria conflict in accordance with agreed EU policy
objectives and in close coordination with the OSCE. We cleared
the renewal of his mandate on 13 July.
The Joint Action
17.4 In his 20 October Explanatory Memorandum, the
Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Mr Douglas Alexander) says:
- "The UK Presidency expects
to submit for approval (at the 7 November 2005 General Affairs
and External Relations Council) a Joint Action to amend the mandate
for the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Moldova. The amendment
will reinforce the EUSR's team. This follows a decision by the
EU to respond positively to a request from the Moldovan and Ukrainian
Presidents in June 2005 for EU assistance in providing effective
control of the Ukrainian-Moldovan border, in particular the Transnistrian
section. An EU Fact-Finding Mission in August 2005 concluded that
the best framework for the EU's engagement would be a joint approach
comprising a European Commission (EC) Border Assistance Mission
and the reinforcement of the EUSR's team.
- "The EUSR's expanded team will consist of
four political advisers based in Odessa, Kiev and Chisinau. The
objective of the EUSR's team will be to assure appropriate political
overview of developments related to the Moldova-Ukraine border,
to analyse the political commitment of Moldova and Ukraine to
improving border management, and to promote co-operation on border
issues between the Moldovan and Ukrainian sides. The EC element
will focus on building the capacity of the relevant Moldovan and
Ukrainian authorities.
- "In order to ensure the Council maintains
a strategic overview of the border situation in Moldova, the Senior
Political Adviser in the EUSR's Team will also head the EC Border
Assistance Mission".
The Government's view
17.5 The Minister goes on to say:
- "The Government believes
that the deployment of an EU Border Assistance Mission is an important
step in efforts to address the security concerns associated with
illegal trade across the Moldova-Ukraine border, in particular
the Transnistria segment. Transnistria itself has become a haven
for crime, including the trafficking of people,
drugs and weapons. This has had a negative impact on Moldova,
Ukraine and the neighbouring region and has made resolution of
the frozen conflict in Transnistria more difficult. The problems
presented by the situation will also soon be on the EU's common
external border, once Romania accedes to the EU. The deployment
of the Border Assistance Mission aims to increase transparency
across the whole Ukraine-Moldova border and so contribute to security
and stability in the region, as well as the facilitation of legal
trade.
- "The reinforced EUSR's team is a key part
of the border mission giving Member States appropriate political
and strategic oversight. The role of the EUSR's team will be especially
important in liaising with the Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities
and encouraging them to co-operate fully".
Conclusion
17.6 We endorse the proposed Joint Action and
are reporting it to the House in view of the widespread interest
in both Common Foreign and Security Policy and developments in
the region.
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