COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2021/710

of 29 April 2021

appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) The resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a strategic priority for the Union and the Union must remain actively engaged until that conflict is solved on the basis of the two-State solution.

(2) The Union is committed to a comprehensive and lasting peace for the entire Middle East region and stands ready to work to that end together with regional and international partners.

(3) A European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process should be appointed for a period of 22 months.

(4) The EUSR will implement the mandate 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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

European Union Special Representative

Mr Sven KOOPMANS is hereby appointed as the EUSR for the Middle East Peace Process from 1 May 2021 until 28 February 2023. The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, on the basis of an assessment by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).

Article 2

Policy objectives

The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the following policy regarding the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP):

(a) the overall objective is a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that should be achieved on the basis of a two-State solution, with Israel and a democratic, contiguous, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and recalling other relevant UNSCRs, including UNSCR 2334 (2016), the Madrid principles, including land for peace, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties, the Arab Peace Initiative and the recommendations of the Middle East Quartet ('the Quartet') of 1 July 2016. In light of the different strands of Israeli-Arab relations, the regional dimension constitutes an essential component for a comprehensive peace;

(b) in achieving this objective, policy priorities are the preservation of the two-State solution and relaunching and supporting the peace process. Clear parameters defining the basis for negotiations are key elements for a successful outcome and the Union has set out its position with regard to such parameters in the Council conclusions of December 2009, December 2010 and July 2014, which it will continue to actively promote;

(c) the Union is committed to working with the parties and with partners in the international community, including through participating in the Quartet and actively pursuing appropriate international initiatives to create a new dynamic for the negotiations.

Article 3

Mandate

1. In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:

(a) provide an active and efficient Union contribution to actions and initiatives leading to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution and in line with the Union parameters and relevant UNSCRs, including UNSCR 2334 (2016), and put forward proposals for Union action in this regard;

(b) facilitate and maintain close contacts with all the parties to the peace process, relevant political actors, other countries of the region, members of the Quartet and other relevant countries, as well as the UN and other relevant international organisations, like the League of Arab States, in order to work with them in strengthening the peace process;

(c) take advantage of the evolving regional landscape in the Middle East and in particular the normalisation of relations between Israel and a number of Arab countries, in order to further advance the peace process and thus contribute to regional stability;

(d) pay particular attention to factors affecting the regional dimension of the peace process, to the engagement with Arab partners and to the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative;

(e) work as appropriate to promote and contribute to a possible new framework of negotiations in consultation with all the key stakeholders and the Member States;

(f) actively support and contribute to peace negotiations between the parties, including by putting forward proposals on behalf of the Union and in line with its consolidated longstanding policy in the context of those negotiations;

(g) ensure the continued presence of the Union in relevant international fora;

(h) contribute to crisis management and prevention, including with regard to Gaza;

(i) contribute, where requested, to the implementation of international agreements reached between the parties and engage with them diplomatically in the event of non-compliance with the terms of those agreements;

(j) contribute to political efforts to bring about a fundamental change leading to a sustainable solution for the Gaza Strip which is an integral part of a future Palestinian State and should be addressed in the negotiations;

(k) engage constructively with signatories to agreements within the framework of the peace process in order to promote compliance with the basic norms of democracy, including respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and the rule of law;

(l) make proposals for Union intervention in the peace process and on the best way of pursuing Union initiatives and ongoing peace-process-related Union efforts, such as the Union's contribution to Palestinian reforms and including the political aspects of relevant Union development projects;

(m) engage the parties in refraining from unilateral actions threatening the viability of the two-State solution, notably in Jerusalem and in Area C of the Occupied West Bank;

(n) report regularly, as Envoy to the Quartet, on progress and evolution in the negotiations, as well as on the Quartet activities, and contribute to the preparation of Quartet Envoys meetings on the basis of Union positions and through coordination with other Quartet members;

(o) contribute to the implementation of the Union's human rights policy in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, including the Union Guidelines on human rights, in particular the Union Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict as well as on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and Union policy regarding UNSCR 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, including by monitoring and reporting on developments as well as formulating recommendations in that regard;

(p) contribute to a better understanding and visibility of the role of the Union among opinion leaders in the region;

(q) engage, as necessary, with representatives of civil society, including women and young people, as well as with those involved in measures to build confidence between the parties.

2. The EUSR shall support the work of the HR, while maintaining an overview of all MEPP-related activities of the Union in the region.

Article 4

Implementation of the mandate

1. The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of the mandate, acting under the authority of the HR.

2. The PSC shall maintain a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the EUSR's primary point of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide the EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the framework of the mandate, without prejudice to the powers of the HR.

3. The EUSR shall ensure systematic and clear concertation and cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the relevant departments thereof.

4. The EUSR will undertake regular visits to the region and will ensure close coordination with relevant Union Delegations across the region, including the Union Representative Office in Jerusalem, the Union Delegation in Tel Aviv and, through them, with Member States' diplomatic representations.

Article 5

Financing

1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period from 1 May 2021 until 28 February 2023 shall be EUR 2 099 463,58.

2. The expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.

3. The management of the expenditure shall be subject to a contract between the EUSR and the Commission. The EUSR shall be accountable to the Commission for all expenditure.

Article 6

Constitution and composition of the team

1. Within the limits of the EUSR's mandate and the corresponding financial means made available, the EUSR shall be responsible for constituting a team. The team shall include the expertise on specific policy issues as required by the mandate. The EUSR shall keep the Council and the Commission promptly informed of the composition of the team.

2. Member States, institutions of the Union and the EEAS may propose the secondment of staff to work with the EUSR. The salary of such seconded personnel shall be covered by the Member State, the institution of the Union concerned or the EEAS, respectively. Experts seconded by Member States to the institutions of the Union or the EEAS may also be posted to work with the EUSR. International contracted staff shall have the nationality of a Member State.

3. All seconded personnel shall remain under the administrative authority of the sending Member State, institution of the Union or the EEAS and shall carry out their duties and act in the interest of the mandate of the EUSR.

4. The EUSR staff shall be co-located with the relevant EEAS department, Union Delegation in Tel Aviv and Union Representative Office in Jerusalem in order to ensure the coherence and consistency of their respective activities.

Article 7

Privileges and immunities of the EUSR and his staff

The privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission of the EUSR and the members of the EUSR's staff shall be agreed with the host parties, as appropriate. Member States and the EEAS shall grant all necessary support to such effect.

Article 8

Security of EU classified information

The EUSR and the members of the EUSR's team shall respect the security principles and minimum standards established by Council Decision 2013/488/EU (1).

Article 9

Access to information and logistical support

1. Member States, the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council shall ensure that the EUSR is given access to any relevant information.

2. The Union Delegations in the region and/or Member States, as appropriate, shall provide logistical support in the region.

Article 10

Security

In accordance with the Union's policy on the security of personnel deployed outside the Union in an operational capacity under Title V of the Treaty, the EUSR shall take all reasonably practicable measures, in conformity with the EUSR's mandate and the security situation in the area of responsibility, for the security of all personnel under the EUSR's direct authority, in particular by:

(a) establishing a specific security plan based on guidance from the EEAS, including specific physical, organisational and procedural security measures, governing management of the secure movement of personnel to, and within, the area of responsibility, as well as management of security incidents and a mission contingency and evacuation plan;

(b) ensuring that all personnel deployed outside the Union are covered by high risk insurance as required by the conditions in the area of responsibility;

(c) ensuring that all members of the EUSR's team to be deployed outside the Union, including locally contracted personnel, have received appropriate security training before or upon arriving in the area of responsibility, based on the risk ratings assigned to that area by the EEAS;

(d) ensuring that all agreed recommendations made following regular security assessments are implemented and providing the HR, the Council and the Commission with written reports on their implementation and on other security issues within the framework of the progress and mandate implementation reports.

Article 11

Reporting

The EUSR shall regularly provide the HR and the PSC with reports. The EUSR shall also report to other Council working parties as necessary. Regular reports shall be circulated through the COREU network. The EUSR may provide the Foreign Affairs Council with reports. The EUSR may be involved in providing information to the European Parliament.

Article 12

Coordination

1. The EUSR shall contribute to the unity, consistency and effectiveness of the Union's action and shall help ensure that all Union instruments and Member States' actions are engaged consistently, to attain the Union's policy objectives. Liaison with Member States shall be sought where appropriate. The activities of the EUSR shall be coordinated with those of the Commission services. The EUSR shall provide regular briefings to the Union's Delegations and to Member States' Missions, including the Union Representative Office in Jerusalem and the Union Delegation in Tel Aviv.

2. Close liaison shall be maintained in the field with the relevant Heads of Member States' Missions, Heads of Union Delegations and Heads of common security and defence policy Missions. They shall make every effort to assist the EUSR in the implementation of the mandate. The EUSR, in close coordination with the Head of Union Delegation in Tel Aviv and the Union Representative Office in Jerusalem, shall provide the Heads of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) and of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) with local political guidance. The EUSR shall also liaise with other international and regional actors in the field.

Article 13

Assistance in relation to claims

The EUSR and the EUSR's staff shall assist in providing elements to respond to any claims and obligations arising from the mandates of the previous EUSRs for the MEPP, and shall provide administrative assistance and access to relevant files for such purposes.

Article 14

Review

The implementation of this Decision and its consistency with other contributions from the Union to the region shall be kept under regular review. The EUSR shall present the HR, the Council and the Commission with regular progress reports and a final comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2022.

Article 15

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 29 April 2021.

For the Council

The President

A. P. ZACARIAS

(1) 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

).