COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/509

of 7 March 2023

on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Nigerien Armed Forces in conjunction with the EU military partnership mission in Niger

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) and Article 41(2) thereof,

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

Whereas:

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 (1) establishes the European Peace Facility (EPF) for the financing by Member States of Union actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security pursuant to Article 21(2), point (c), of the Treaty. In particular, pursuant to Article 1(2) of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509, the EPF is to be used for the financing of assistance measures such as actions to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters.

(2) Niger plays a major role in key regional, European and international initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and development in the Sahel including the Union’s Integrated Strategy in the Sahel, the Sahel Coalition and the Partnership for Security and Stability in the Sahel (P3S) as well as the Sahel Alliance. The international community, including the Union, has invested considerable efforts to support the Republic of Niger in its fight against terrorism in recent years. The Union is committed to a close relationship in support of military and defence in Niger.

(3) In the Sahel region, Niger is a key country for the Union in terms of addressing security and migration issues. The Union has a strong partnership with the government of Niger, aiming to achieve long-term development through a comprehensive and integrated approach.

(4) On 12 December 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/2444 (2), which established a Union military partnership mission in Niger (EUMPM Niger). The strategic objective of EUMPM Niger is to support capacity building of the Nigerien Armed Forces (

Forces armées nigériennes

– FAN), to enhance their ability to contain the threat posed by terrorist armed groups, to protect the population in Niger and to ensure a safe and secure environment.

(5) On 20 January 2023, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy received a request from the Republic of Niger for the Union to assist the FAN with the procurement of key equipment in order to create a command and communication support battalion, in conjunction with EUMPM Niger.

(6) Assistance measures are to be implemented taking into account the principles and requirements set out in Decision (CFSP) 2021/509, in particular compliance with Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (3), and in accordance with the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF.

(7) The implementation of the assistance measure will be subject to regular assessment of political developments in Niger, in accordance with the Integrated Methodological Framework for assessing and identifying the required mitigating measures and controls for assistance measures under the EPF. In particular, the implementation should not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States.

(8) The Council reaffirms its determination to protect, promote and fulfil human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic principles and to strengthen the rule of law and good governance, in compliance with the United Nations Charter, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Establishment, objective, scope and duration

1.   An assistance measure benefiting the Republic of Niger (the ‘beneficiary’) to be financed under the European Peace Facility (EPF) (the ‘assistance measure’) is hereby established.

2.   The objective of the assistance measure is to enhance the military capacity of the Nigerien Armed Forces (

Forces armées nigériennes

– FAN) in conjunction with the European Union military partnership mission in Niger (EUMPM Niger) to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Niger and to better protect the civilian population against the mounting terrorist threat.

3.   To achieve the objective set out in paragraph 2, the assistance measure shall support the creation of a signal and command support battalion (

bataillon de transmissions et d’appui au commandement

– BTAC) in the Tillabéry region and shall finance:

(a) the provision of the following types of equipment not designed to deliver lethal force:

(i) ground mobility assets, such as signal vehicles, rapid response vehicles and hard-skin vehicles;

(ii) surveillance equipment, including ground surveillance radar and surveillance Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs);

(iii) IT and communication equipment or systems, or both;

(iv) countermeasures equipment, such as Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (counter-IED) equipment and Counter Unmanned Air Vehicles (counter-UAV) systems; and

(b) the provision of the following infrastructure:

(i) warehouses;

(ii) a command building;

(iii) barracks.

4.   The duration of the assistance measure shall be 36 months from the date of conclusion of the contract signed by the administrator for assistance measures, acting as authorising officer, in accordance with Article 32(2), point (a), of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509.

Article 2

Financial arrangements

1.   The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the assistance measure shall be EUR 40 000 000.

2.   All expenditure shall be managed in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 and the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF.

Article 3

Arrangements with the beneficiary

1.   The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) shall make the necessary arrangements with the beneficiary to ensure its compliance with the requirements and conditions established by this Decision as a condition for the provision of support under the assistance measure.

2.   The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions obliging the beneficiary to ensure:

(a) the compliance of the units of the FAN supported under the assistance measure with relevant international law, in particular international human rights law and international humanitarian law as well as the commitment of the Nigerien government to enhance the fight against corruption;

(b) the proper and efficient use of any assets provided under the assistance measure for the purposes for which they were provided;

(c) the sufficient maintenance of any assets provided under the assistance measure to ensure their usability and their operational availability over their life cycle;

(d) that any assets provided under the assistance measure will not be lost, or be transferred without the consent of the Facility Committee established under Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 to persons or entities other than those identified in those arrangements, at the end of their life cycle.

3.   The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions on the suspension and termination of support under the assistance measure in the event of the beneficiary being found in breach of the obligations set out in paragraph 2.

Article 4

Implementation

1.   The High Representative shall be responsible for ensuring the implementation of this Decision in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 and with the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF, in line with the Integrated Methodological Framework for assessing and identifying the required measures and controls for assistance measures under the EPF.

2.   The implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1(3) shall be carried out by the Italian Ministry of Defence through its

Agenzia Industrie Difesa

.

Article 5

Monitoring, control and evaluation

1.   The High Representative shall monitor the compliance by the beneficiary with the obligations established in accordance with Article 3. This monitoring shall provide awareness of the context and the risks of breaches of the obligations established in accordance with Article 3, and shall contribute to the prevention of such breaches, including violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the units of the FAN supported under the assistance measure.

2.   The post-shipment control of equipment and supplies shall be organised as follows:

(a) delivery verification, whereby delivery certificates are to be signed by the end-user forces upon transfer of ownership;

(b) reporting, whereby the beneficiary is to report annually on the activities conducted with the equipment provided by the assistance measure and on the inventory of designated items until such reporting is no longer deemed necessary by the Political and Security Committee (PSC);

(c) on-site inspections, whereby the beneficiary is to grant the High Representative access to conduct on-site controls upon request.

3.   The High Representative shall conduct a final evaluation upon completion of the assistance measure to assess whether the assistance measure has contributed to reaching the objective stated in Article 1(2).

Article 6

Reporting

During the period of implementation, the High Representative shall provide the PSC with six-monthly reports on the implementation of the assistance measure, in accordance with Article 63 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509. The administrator for assistance measures shall regularly inform the Facility Committee established by Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 on the implementation of revenue and expenditure in accordance with Article 38 of that Decision, including by providing information on the suppliers and subcontractors involved.

Article 7

Suspension and termination

1.   The PSC may decide to suspend wholly or partially the implementation of the assistance measure in accordance with Article 64 of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509.

2.   The PSC may also recommend that the Council terminate the assistance measure.

Article 8

Entry into force

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

Done at Brussels, 7 March 2023.

For the Council

The President

L. EDHOLM

(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2015/528 (

OJ L 102, 24.3.2021, p. 14

).

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2444 of 12 December 2022 on a European Union military partnership mission in Niger (EUMPM Niger) (

OJ L 319, 13.12.2022, p. 86

).

(3)  Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment (

OJ L 335, 13.12.2008, p. 99

).