ANNEXSupplementary provisions
THE AGENCY ESTABLISHMENT TEAM MANDATE 1. The Agency Establishment Team (AET) will prepare the conditions for the operational setting up and working of the future Agency, on the basis of the report attached to the Council Conclusions. The AET will support the Council and its competent bodies in their work towards the establishment of the Agency. The AET will take forward work on: - the financial, legal and administrative aspects (including budget and staff) of the setting up of the Agency and its internal organisation, - the establishment of the Agency, in particular regarding its missions in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments. 2. The Team will start functioning in January 2004. The AET exercises its mission under the political supervision of the Council, from which it receives guidance. Within this framework, the Head of the Team regularly reports to the Coreper and the PSC, through the ad hoc preparation group, on progress in the Team's work. The AET draws on the expertise of the EU Military Committee through the PSC and, in a way to be defined, the EU National Armament Directors. 3. The team will submit proposals by the end of April 2004 to the Council through the ad hoc preparation group, with a view to the adoption of the necessary decisions by the Council by June 2004. These will include the administrative and logistical aspects of the future Agency, its financial framework and a draft outline of its first operational programme. The AET will have accomplished its mandate once the Agency starts functioning, or on 31 December 2004, whichever is the earliest. 4. The Team is not a Council preparatory body. MISSION OF THE AET 5. The AET is to prepare, by the end of April 2004, on the basis of the report annexed to the Council Conclusions of 17 and 18 November 2003: (a) a comprehensive plan for the establishment of the Agency, covering: - the Agency's structure and organisation, - the internal working methods and procedures to be adopted by the Agency to discharge its functions and tasks, - proposals for its working relations with Council bodies and the Commission, - proposals for appropriate relationships, and plans for their development, with OCCAR, WEAG/WEAO, L.o.I, - budgetary, administrative and staffing arrangements (including draft TORs of key bodies and appointments, as necessary), - a draft outline for a first operational programme in the following fields: defence capabilities development; armaments cooperation; strengthening of defence industrial and technological base; creation of a competitive European defence equipment market and promotion of research, - a detailed timetable and roadmap for implementation. (b) elements for a draft Joint Action establishing the Agency. HEAD AND COMPOSITION OF THE AET The composition of the Team should reflect the four fields of activity of the Agency as mentioned in the Thessaloniki European Council Conclusions. The Team will be headed by a Team leader appointed by the SG/HR after consultations with the Council and the Commission from candidates proposed by Member States, acceding States and the EU institutions. These candidates should have sound experience and expertise in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, as well as a good knowledge of the functioning of the EU, in particular the CFSP and ESDP. The Team will be composed of: - national experts seconded by Member States and acceding States to the Council Secretariat according to specific requirements of the mission, - officials of the European institutions. The Commission will second one or more officials to the Team. The members of the team will be chosen by the SG/HR in consultation with the Team leader, on the broadest possible geographical basis and will act in an international capacity. In all cases, recruitment will be directed to securing for the Team the services of staff of the highest standard of ability and efficiency.