Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/2032 of 19 November 2021 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support military units trained by the EU Training Mission in Mozambique

• CELEX: Decision (CFSP) 2021/2032
• Articles: 8

Article 1 Establishment, objectives, scope and duration

1.   An assistance measure benefiting the Republic of Mozambique (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 support capacity building for and the deployment of the units of the Mozambican armed forces to be trained by EUTM Mozambique in order to allow those units to develop the necessary sustainable capacities to restore safety and security in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, thereby enabling the presence of accountable law enforcement agencies, subject to the rule of law, to protect the civilian population and the return of accountable State structures that deliver services across Cabo Delgado.

3.   To achieve the objective set out in paragraph 2, the Assistance Measure shall finance the provision of the following equipment not designed to deliver lethal force and supplies to the Mozambican units referred to in that paragraph:

(a)

individual equipment for soldiers;

(b)

collective equipment at company level;

(c)

ground and amphibious mobility assets;

(d)

technical devices; and

(e)

a field hospital.

4.   The duration of the Assistance Measure shall be 30 months from the date of conclusion of the contract between the Administrator for Assistance Measures acting as authorising officer and the entity referred to in Article 4(2) 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 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 and by the urgent measure approved by the Council on 30 July 2021.

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

(a)

compliance of the units of the Mozambican armed forces trained by EUTM Mozambique with relevant international law, in particular international human rights and international humanitarian law;

(b)

proper and efficient use of any assets provided under the Assistance Measure for the purposes for which they were provided;

(c)

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, consistently 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 Ministry of Defence of the Portuguese Republic.

Article 5 Monitoring, control and evaluation

1.   The High Representative shall ensure that the respect of the obligations established in accordance with Article 3 by the beneficiary is monitored. This monitoring shall provide awareness of the context and 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 and international humanitarian law and acts of sexual and gender-based violence by units of the Mozambican armed forces 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 on the inventory, whereby the beneficiary is to report annually on the inventory of designated items; reporting is to continue until it is no longer deemed necessary by the Political and Security Committee (PSC);

(c)

on-site control, whereby the beneficiary is to grant the High Representative access to conduct on-site control upon request.

3.   The High Representative shall conduct an evaluation, in the form of a first assessment of the Assistance Measure, 6 months after the first two companies trained by EUTM Mozambique are deployed to the Cabo Delgado region. This will entail on-site visits to check the equipment and supplies delivered under the Assistance Measure, or any other effective forms of independently provided information. A final evaluation shall be conducted upon completion of the delivery of equipment under the Assistance Measure.

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

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.

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 day of its adoption.