COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/258

of 6 February 2023

extending the mandate of European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process and amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/710

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) On 25 November 1996, the Council agreed to appoint a European Union Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process.

(2) On 29 April 2021, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/710 (1) appointing Mr Sven KOOPMANS as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process. The EUSR’s mandate is to expire on 28 February 2023.

(3) The EUSR’s mandate should be extended for a further period of 24 months and a new financial reference amount for the period from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2025 should be established.

(4) Decision (CFSP) 2021/710 should be amended accordingly.

(5) 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

Decision (CFSP) 2021/710 is amended as follows:

(1) Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

European Union Special Representative

The mandate of Sven KOOPMANS as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process is extended until 28 February 2025. The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, based on 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).’

;

(2) in Article 5(1), the following subparagraph is added:

‘The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the EUSR’s mandate for the period from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2025 shall be EUR 2 499 330,98.’;

(3) in Article 14, the second sentence is replaced by the following:

‘The EUSR shall present the Council, the HR and the Commission with regular progress reports and a final comprehensive mandate implementation report by 30 November 2024.’.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 6 February 2023.

For the Council

The President

J. ROSWALL

(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/710 of 29 April 2021 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (

OJ L 147, 30.4.2021, p. 12

).