General objective and subject matter
Article 1
1. This Decision lays down rules and procedures for the implementation by the Union of Article 222 TFEU (‘the solidarity clause’). 2. In order to ensure coherence and complementarity of Union and Member State action, coordination at political level of the response to the invocation of the solidarity clause shall be carried out by the Council, using the IPCR arrangements. Support to the operation of the IPCR arrangements shall be provided by the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC), the Commission and the EEAS. 3. Arrangements at Union level shall be based upon existing mechanisms in the Council, the Commission, the EEAS and Union agencies to provide information and support. Where relevant, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) and the EEAS shall contribute by taking initiatives and providing relevant information and support within the HR's area of competence. 4. Relevant Union instruments and the IPCR arrangements shall follow their own procedures and may be active before the invocation and after the phasing out of the response under this Decision. 5. The arrangements pursuant to this Decision shall improve efficiency through enhanced coordination between Union and Member State responses.