POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2022/2539

of 13 December 2022

on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2022/59 (BiH/34/2022)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004 on the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to take the relevant decisions on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA) (the ‘EU Force Commander’).

(2) On 10 January 2022, the PSC adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/59 (2), appointing Major General Anton WESSELY as the EU Force Commander.

(3) On 13 October 2022, the Austrian military authorities recommended the appointment of Major General Helmut HABERMAYER to succeed Major General Anton WESSELY as the EU Force Commander as from 20 January 2023.

(4) The Operation Commander for Operation ALTHEA supported the recommendation from the Austrian military authorities.

(5) On 24 November 2022, the EU Military Committee agreed to the recommendation from the Austrian military authorities.

(6) Decision (CFSP) 2022/59 should therefore be repealed.

(7) On 12 and 13 December 2002, the Copenhagen European Council adopted a declaration stating that the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those Member States of the Union which are NATO members or are in the Partnership for Peace programme, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Major General Helmut HABERMAYER is hereby appointed EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA) as from 20 January 2023.

Article 2

Decision (CFSP) 2022/59 is repealed.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on 20 January 2023.

Done at Brussels, 13 December 2022.

For the Political and Security Committee

The Chairperson

D. PRONK

(1)  

OJ L 252, 28.7.2004, p. 10

.

(2)  Political and Security Committee Decision (CFSP) 2022/59 of 10 January 2022 on the appointment of the EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2021/5 (BiH/32/2022) (

OJ L 10, 17.1.2022, p. 77

).