1. The Union shall conduct a Mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) with the strategic objective to assist the West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea in which that Mission is established in developing the adequate capabilities within their security and defence forces to contain and respond to the pressure exercised by terrorist armed groups.
2. The Mission referred to in paragraph 1 shall be named ‘European Union Security and Defence Initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea’ (the ‘Initiative’).
3. The Initiative is hereby established in Benin and Ghana.
4. The Council may decide that the Initiative is also to be established in other West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea set out in the Crisis Management Concept for a possible security and defence partnership with West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea, approved by the Council on 29 June 2023, upon invitation by those countries.
1. In pursuit of the strategic objective set out in Article 1(1), as regards the countries referred to in Article 1(3), the Initiative shall:
a)
contribute to enhancing resilience in vulnerable areas in their northern regions through capacity building of their security and defence forces;
b)
provide pre-deployment operational training of their security and defence forces;
c)
support the enhancement in technical areas of their security and defence forces;
d)
promote the rule of law and good governance in their security sectors, focusing on their security and defence forces, and support trust-building between civil society and security and defence forces.
2. International humanitarian law, human rights and the principle of gender equality, the protection of civilians and the agendas under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, UNSCR 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace and Security and UNSCR 1612 (2005) on Children and Armed Conflict shall be fully integrated and proactively mainstreamed in the Initiative’s strategic and operational planning, activities and reporting.
3. In a flexible and modular approach, and as necessary to implement its tasks, the Initiative shall in particular deploy mobile training teams, visiting experts and crisis response teams to the countries referred to in Article 1(3). The Initiative shall implement civilian and military projects in those countries in pursuit of its strategic objective set out in Article 1(1) and the tasks set out in Article 2(1).
4. The Initiative shall facilitate the implementation of assistance measures under the European Peace Facility which may be decided by the Council in support of the countries referred to in Article 1(3).
1. Under the responsibility of the Council and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), the Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall exercise the political control and strategic direction of the Initiative. The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take relevant decisions in accordance with Article 38 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). That authorisation shall include powers to amend the planning documents, including the Operation Plan for the civilian pillar of the Initiative and the Mission Plan for the military pillar of the Initiative, and the chain of command. It shall also include powers to take decisions on the appointment of the heads of the civilian and the military command and support cells. Powers of decision with respect to the objectives and termination of the Initiative shall remain vested in the Council.
2. The PSC shall report to the Council at regular intervals.
3. The PSC shall receive, on a regular basis, reports from the chairman of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) regarding the activities of the military pillar of the Initiative. The PSC shall receive, on a regular basis and as required, reports from the Civilian Operation Commander regarding the activities of the civilian pillar of the Initiative. The PSC may invite the Civilian Operation Commander and the Military Commander to its meetings, as appropriate.
1. The Initiative shall have a unified chain of command as a crisis management operation.
2. The Initiative shall have its headquarters in Brussels.
3. The Initiative shall have a civilian pillar under the strategic command and control of the Civilian Operation Commander (the ‘civilian pillar’), and a military pillar under the strategic command and control of the Military Commander (the ‘military pillar’).
4. The Joint Support Coordination Cell, co-chaired for the Initiative by the Civilian Operation Commander and the Military Commander, shall ensure the unity of the chain of command.
