31998E0735

98/735/CFSP: Joint Action of 22 December 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in support of the democratic process in Nigeria

Official Journal L 354 , 30/12/1998 P. 0001 - 0002

JOINT ACTION of 22 December 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in support of the democratic process in Nigeria (98/735/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles J.3 and J.11 thereof,

Having regard to the general guidelines contained in the conclusions adopted by the European Council in Madrid on 15-16 December 1995,

Whereas on 30 October 1998, the Council adopted, on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty, Common Position 98/614/CFSP and issued a declaration concerning Nigeria, which indicated the EU's willingness to consider concrete measures to support the legislative and presidential elections which will take place in Nigeria on 20 and 27 February 1999 respectively;

Whereas, within the framework of the international effort coordinated by the United Nations, the Commission, acting on behalf of the European Community and its Member States, has undertaken a number of activities to provide assistance for the preparation of, and observers for, the elections, including support to the functioning of the Nigerian Independent National Election Commission and assistance to local election monitoring (Transition Monitoring Group);

Whereas the EU will further contribute to the support for the election process by deploying an EU contingent of election observers who will be integrated in the United Nations overall coordination structure;

Whereas, in order to guarantee EU visibility and in the absence of a UN-appointed spokesperson, the Presidency will appoint an EU spokesperson,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. The European Union shall deploy a contingent of 100 EU observers to the February 1999 elections in Nigeria within the framework of the international observer mission coordinated by the United Nations.

2. The Presidency shall appoint an EU spokesperson who will be responsible for joint EU-UN declarations and press and public relations.

Article 2

1. An amount of up to EUR 810 000 shall be charged to the general budget of the European Communities. This amount is intended to cover the operational expenditure of the EU observer mission in Nigeria and shall be managed by the UN Volunteers under the responsibility of the Commission.

2. The salary and related charges of observers designated by the EU shall be at the charge of the Member States which provide them.

3. The expenditure financed by the amount stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with Community procedures and rules applicable to the said budget.

Article 3

The Council notes that the Commission intends to direct its action towards achieving the objectives and priorities of this Joint Action, where appropriate by pertinent Community measures.

Article 4

This Joint Action shall come into force on 1 January 1999.

Article 5

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 22 December 1998.

For the Council

The President

C. EINEM