Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/906 of 9 June 2022 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to strengthen the capacities of the Balkan Medical Task Force
Establishment, objectives, scope and duration
1. An assistance measure benefiting the BMTF (the ‘beneficiary’) to be financed under the European Peace Facility (the ‘assistance measure’) is hereby established.
2. The objective of the assistance measure is to support capacity building of the BMTF by procuring the necessary equipment and materiel for the medical units of the Armed Forces of the participating countries, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, in order to strengthen the military medical capabilities of the region and ultimately civilian relief efforts.
3. In order to achieve the objective set out in paragraph 2, the assistance measure shall finance:
(a)
mobility assets (medical and terrain vehicles);
(b)
role 2 hospitals;
(c)
laboratory equipment and supplies;
(d)
IT and communication equipment.
4. The duration of the assistance measure shall be 36 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) of this Decision in accordance with Article 32(2), point (a), of Decision (CFSP) 2021/509.
Financial arrangements
1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the assistance measure shall be EUR 6 000 000.
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.
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.
2. The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include provisions obliging the beneficiary to ensure:
(a)
compliance of the units of the BMTF 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 throughout their life cycle;
(d)
that any assets provided under the assistance measure are not lost, or that they are not transferred without the consent of the Facility Committee established under Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 (the ‘Facility Committee’) 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.
Implementation
1. The High Representative shall be responsible for ensuring the implementation of this Decision in accordance with Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 and the rules for the implementation of revenue and expenditure financed under the EPF, in compliance 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 ITF Enhancing Human Security (ITF).
Monitoring, control and evaluation
1. The High Representative shall monitor the respect of the obligations provided for in Article 3 by the beneficiary. The monitoring shall be used to provide awareness of the context and risks of breaches of the obligations provided for in Article 3, and contribute to the prevention of such breaches, including violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law by the BMTF units.
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 activities, whereby the beneficiary is to report annually on activities conducted with the equipment, supplies and services provided under the assistance measure until such reporting is no longer deemed necessary by the Political and Security Committee (PSC);
(c)
on-site controls, whereby the beneficiary is to grant the High Representative access to conduct on-site controls upon request.
3. The High Representative shall conduct an evaluation, in the form of a structured first assessment of the assistance measure 12 months after the delivery of the equipment. This may entail on-site visits to control the equipment, supplies and services delivered under the assistance measure, or any other forms of independently provided information. A final evaluation shall be conducted upon completion of the assistance measure to assess whether the assistance measure has contributed to reaching the stated objectives.
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 of the implementation of revenue and expenditure, in accordance with Article 38 of that Decision, including by providing information on the suppliers and subcontractors involved.
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.
Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
