Establishment
Article 1
1. An Agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments (‘European Defence Agency’ or the ‘Agency’), as originally established by Joint Action 2004/551/CFSP, shall hereby continue in accordance with the following provisions. 2. The Agency shall act under the Council's authority, in support of the CFSP and the CSDP, within the single institutional framework of the Union, and without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Union institutions and the Council bodies. The Agency's mission shall be without prejudice to other competences of the Union, in full respect of Article 40 TEU. 3. The Agency shall be open to participation by all Member States wishing to be part of it. Member States already participating in the Agency at the time of the adoption of this Decision shall continue as participating Member States. 4. Any Member State wishing to participate in the Agency after the entry into force of this Decision or wishing to withdraw from the Agency shall notify its intention to the Council and inform the HR. Any necessary technical and financial arrangements for such participation or withdrawal shall be determined by the Steering Board referred to in Article 8. 5. The Agency shall have its seat in Brussels.