COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

 

Press material Wednesday 27 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   27/07/2022 14:07 | Press release | Tunisia: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the constitutional referendum   The European Union takes note of the preliminary results of the constitutional referendum held in Tunisia on 25 July, for which turnout was low. A broad consensus among the various political forces, including political parties and civil society, is both essential for the success of a process that preserves the democratic acquis and necessary for all the major political and economic reforms Tunisia will undertake. The legitimacy and sustainability of those reforms will depend on it. The preparations and arrangements for the parliamentary elections scheduled for December should therefore be seen as an opportunity to foster a genuine exchange within the framework of an inclusive national dialogue. As the European Union and the Venice Commission have repeatedly pointed out, that dialogue will be an important condition for establishing a legislative framework which ensures the legitimacy and representativeness of the future parliament. The election of the parliament will be the cornerstone of the return to normal functioning of the country’s institutions, with full respect for democratic principles, in particular the separation of powers, consolidation of the rule of law, pluralism and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom to demonstrate and the other fundamental freedoms are essential values of democratic states to which the European Union attaches particular importance and which must be preserved. The European Union will continue to follow developments closely, and will stand by the Tunisian people and listen to their needs at this crucial time for the country. The European Union reaffirms that it is ready and willing to provide political support for a successful democratic transition. It will also continue to support the Tunisian people as they respond to the major socio-economic and financial challenges facing the country, which have been aggravated by the impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine on food and energy security and which call for urgent structural reforms. The Council adopted two decisions concerning the European Union CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) missions in the Central African Republic: t… Press material Thursday 28 July 2022   ● Council of the EU   28/07/2022 17:36 | Press release | Central African Republic: Council extends the mandates of the civilian advisory mission and the military training mission   The Council adopted two decisions concerning the European Union CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) missions in the Central African Republic: the civilian advisory mission EUAM RCA, and the military training mission EUTM RCA. The decisions follow the holistic strategic review of the two missions and extend their mandates, until 9 August 2024 in the case of the civilian mission EUAM RCA, and until 20 September 2023 for the military one EUTM RCA. For EUAM RCA, the Council foresees a financial reference amount for the common costs of € 28 400 000 and a reference amount of € 7 813 000 for the EUTM RCA. The Council decided to maintain the strategic objectives of EUAM RCA, and to focus the mandate of EUTM RCA on the provision of strategic advice and accompanying education measures. This will support the functioning of the Ministry of Defence and the creation of a capable leadership education system. The Council also decided to widen the mandates of the two missions so as to include activities in support of the strategic communication efforts to foster EU values, promote EU action and expose violations of Human rights and International Humanitarian Law by foreign forces in the Central African Republic. Background The EUAM RCA was established in December 2019 with an initial mandate of two years, until 8 August 2022, with the objective to support the reform of the internal security forces to enable the Central African Republic authorities to mitigate the current security challenges in the country. EU experts have worked so far to support the country’s Ministry of the Interior and the internal security forces, the police and the gendarmerie, with the aim of helping in their deployment throughout the country. EUTM RCA was established in April 2016 to contribute to reform the Central African Republic defence sector within the framework of a wider security sector reform, in close coordination with other international support missions. It supports the Central African authorities and is engaged in three domains: strategic advice, operational training and education. As a temporary measure, PSC decided to suspend the operational training pillar of the Mission in November 2021. The recent strategic review confirmed this temporary measure. Training activities could resume only if PSC decides that appropriate conditions are met. EU Advisory Mission in the Central African Republic (EUAM RCA), EEAS website EU Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA), EEAS website Delegation of the EU to Central African Republic