Executive Summary:
Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/653 establishes a warehouse capability for EU civilian crisis management missions to ensure rapid deployment and continuous access to key equipment and assets. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is selected as the warehouse capability operator for a three-year period, potentially extendable by one year. The decision allocates a financial reference amount of EUR 52,240,608.49 for the first 36 months and repeals Decision 2012/698/CFSP.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Objectives:**
* Strengthen Union capabilities for rapid deployment of key equipment and support services for civilian crisis management missions.
* Provide support for other Union operational actions under Article 28 of the Treaty and for European Union Special Representatives (EUSRs).
* **Establishment and Functions:**
* Establish a warehouse capability to acquire, store, maintain, and replenish a strategic stock of key equipment and assets.
* Make available new, used, and recovered items for civilian CSDP missions, and potentially for other EU operational actions and EUSRs.
* **Implementation:**
* The High Representative is responsible for the implementation of the Decision.
* The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) will carry out the technical implementation as the warehouse capability operator, under the High Representative's responsibility.
* Detailed implementation arrangements to be agreed upon between MSB and the Civilian Operation Commander, ensuring operational oversight and access to the warehouse.
* Equipment and assets will be made available based on the specific needs and mandate of the civilian CSDP mission, or other EU actions.
* **Financial Arrangements:**
* A financial reference amount of EUR 52,240,608.49 is allocated for the first 36 months of implementation.
* The Commission will supervise the expenditure and conclude an agreement with MSB.
* MSB will purchase equipment on its own behalf, make it available to missions at no cost, and donate all stored equipment and assets to the Commission or its designee upon agreement expiration.
* **Reporting and Review:**
* The High Representative will report to the Council on implementation every six months.
* The Commission will provide financial information to the Council every six months.
* The Council will review the financial reference amount 18 months after the agreement's conclusion.
* **Duration and Repeal:**
* The Decision enters into force on the date of its adoption and expires 36 months after the agreement's conclusion, with a possible 12-month extension.
* Decision 2012/698/CFSP is repealed.
* **Annex: Key Equipment and Assets:**
* Strategic stock includes vehicles, IT equipment, communication devices, personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and miscellaneous items.
* Support services include procurement, storage, freight forwarding, ERP system management, technical maintenance, refurbishment of armored vehicles, disposal services, and pharmaceuticals supply.
Impact Analysis:
High Representative:
* Impact: Responsible for overall implementation and reporting to the Council.
* Action Required: Oversee the technical implementation by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and ensure alignment with the Decision's objectives.
Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB):
* Impact: Selected as the warehouse capability operator, responsible for technical implementation.
* Action Required: Agree on detailed implementation arrangements with the Civilian Operation Commander and manage the warehouse operations according to the Decision's stipulations.
Civilian Operation Commander:
* Impact: Responsible for technical and operational oversight of the warehouse.
* Action Required: Ensure access to the warehouse, assess the technical suitability of assets, and report on stock needs.
Commission:
* Impact: Supervises the financial management of the Decision.
* Action Required: Conclude an agreement with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, manage expenditure, and inform the Council of any difficulties in the process.
Council:
* Impact: Receives reports on implementation and financial aspects, and reviews the financial reference amount.
* Action Required: Review reports and make decisions on the extension of the Decision's duration and adjustment of the financial reference amount.
Civilian CSDP Missions:
* Impact: Will have access to key equipment and assets for rapid deployment.
* Action Required: Request equipment and assets based on specific needs and mission mandate.
European Union Special Representatives (EUSRs) and Other Operational Actions of the Union:
* Impact: May receive support with equipment, assets, and services.
* Action Required: Request support as required.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: The political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe, for which the decision is made to establish a warehouse capability for civilian crisis management.
Council of the European Union: A body of the European Union comprising representatives of member states, responsible for adopting the decision.
Treaty on European Union: The founding treaty of the European Union, specifically Articles 42(4) and 43(2), which provide the legal basis for the decision.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: An official of the European Union responsible for the common foreign and security policy, who proposed the decision and is responsible for its implementation.
European External Action Service EEAS: The diplomatic service and foreign policy arm of the European Union which conducted a review of the warehouse and selection procedure.
Political and Security Committee: A committee within the European Union that reaffirmed the establishment of a warehouse capability.
Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency Myndigheten fr samhllsskydd och beredskap MSB: The designated warehouse capability operator responsible for the technical implementation of the decision.
Civilian Operation Commander: Party who needs access to the warehouse to exercise technical and operational oversight to ensure the deployment capability and the proper functioning of civilian crisismanagement missions.
L 108/22 EN Official Journal of the European Union 27.4.2018
DECISIONS
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/653
of 26 April 2018
on the establishment of a warehouse capability for civilian crisis-management missions
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 42(4) and 43(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) For the purpose of the Union's civilian crisis-management operations it is necessary to ensure that rapid
deployment needs and operational requirements are met.
(2) On 13 November 2012 the Council adopted Decision 2012/698/CFSP (1), establishing a warehouse for civilian
crisis-management missions. Pursuant to Article 6 of that Decision, a review of the utility, effectiveness and cost-
efficiency of the warehouse has been conducted by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The outcome of
that review was discussed with the relevant Council preparatory bodies in the first half of 2016.
(3) On 3 May 2016 the Political and Security Committee reaffirmed that the establishment of a warehouse capability
is a useful measure that would support the rapid deployment of missions under the common security and
defence policy (CSDP). It agreed that a new warehouse capability should be operated by a public law body or
a body governed by private law with a public service mission of the Member States as provided for in point (c) of
Article 58(1) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), and
requested the EEAS to conduct the selection procedure. The terms of reference for the selection procedure have
been endorsed by the relevant Council preparatory bodies.
(4) Following the report by the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
(‘the High Representative’) made a recommendation to the Council to select the Swedish Civil Contingencies
Agency (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap — MSB) as the warehouse capability operator for the
implementation of the warehouse capability.
(5) The warehouse capability should acquire, store, maintain and replenish a strategic stock of key equipment and
assets needed for the rapid deployment of civilian CSDP missions. It should also acquire, store, maintain and
make available new and used items of such equipment and assets, as well as provide support services, for civilian
CSDP missions. It should also be possible for it to acquire, store and make available any other items of used
equipment and assets recovered from such missions.
(6) It should also be possible for the warehouse capability to provide, as a secondary task, the same support for
other operational action of the Union under Article 28 of the Treaty and for European Union Special Represen
tatives (EUSRs).
(7) The warehouse capability should be implemented for a period of three years, with a possible extension of
a further year,
(1) Council Decision 2012/698/CFSP of 13 November 2012 on the establishment of a warehouse for civilian crisis management missions
(OJ L 314, 14.11.2012, p. 25).
(2) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules
applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012,
p. 1).27.4.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 108/23
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Objectives
1. For the purposes of ensuring the rapid deployment of key equipment and assets and the provision of appropriate
support services for its civilian crisis-management missions, as well as of ensuring quick and continuous access by those
missions to such equipment and assets, the Union shall strengthen its capabilities through the establishment of
a warehouse capability.
2. The warehouse capability may also provide, as required, the same support with regard to equipment, assets and
services, for other operational action of the Union under Article 28 of the Treaty and EUSRs.
Article 2
Establishment of a warehouse capability
1. For the purposes set out in Article 1, a warehouse capability shall be established. It shall perform the following
functions:
(a) acquire, store, maintain and replenish a strategic stock of key equipment and assets, as identified in the Annex;
(b) acquire, store, maintain and make available new and used items of key equipment and assets and provide support
services, as identified in the Annex, for civilian CSDP missions, including items recovered from other such missions.
2. The warehouse capability may also acquire, store, maintain and make available for civilian CSDP missions relevant
items of equipment and assets which have a similar nature and use to the items identified in the Annex.
3. The warehouse capability may also acquire, store and make available for civilian CSDP missions items of used
equipment and assets recovered from other such missions which have a different nature and use to the items identified
in the Annex.
4. The warehouse capability may also perform, as required, the functions set out in point (b) of paragraph 1 and
paragraphs (2) and (3) with regard to other operational action of the Union and to EUSRs.
Article 3
Implementation
1. The High Representative shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.
2. The technical implementation of this Decision shall be carried out by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency,
which shall act as the warehouse capability operator. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency shall perform its tasks
under the responsibility of the High Representative without prejudice to the financial responsibilities of the Commission
as set out in Article 4(3).
3. Detailed arrangements for the implementation of this Decision shall be agreed between the Swedish Civil Contin
gencies Agency and the Civilian Operation Commander in consultation with the competent Commission services. Those
arrangements shall, in particular, ensure that the Civilian Operation Commander has access to the warehouse to exercise
technical and operational oversight in order to ensure the deployment capability and the proper functioning of civilian
crisis-management missions. The Civilian Operation Commander shall also assess the technical suitability of used assets
for storage and future use, and report on the need to refresh and roll over stocks.
4. The warehouse capability shall make available the equipment and assets referred to in point (b) of Article 2(1) and
Article 2(2) at the request of a civilian CSDP mission, on the basis of the specific needs of the mission and in
accordance with the mandate of the mission. The same conditions shall apply mutatis mutandis as regards other
operational action of the Union and EUSRs.L 108/24 EN Official Journal of the European Union 27.4.2018
Article 4
Financial arrangements
1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of this Decision for the period of 36 months following the
date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 shall be EUR 52 240 608,49.
2. The expenditure financed by the financial reference amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be managed in
accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
3. The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 2. For that
purpose, it shall conclude an agreement with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency as the warehouse capability
operator.
4. The agreement referred to in paragraph 3 shall provide, inter alia, that:
(a) the equipment and assets referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 2(1) and in Article 2(2) are to be purchased by
the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency on its own behalf and in accordance with its own procurement rules;
(b) the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is to make available equipment and assets without any cost to civilian CSDP
missions, and take them back as appropriate;
(c) before the agreement expires, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is to donate all the equipment and assets
stored by it to the Commission or to any other entity designated by the Commission.
5. The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after
the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of
conclusion of the agreement.
Article 5
Reporting
1. The High Representative shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision every six months.
2. The Commission shall provide the Council with information on the financial aspects of the functioning of the
warehouse capability every six months.
Article 6
Review
18 months after the date of conclusion of the agreement referred to in Article 4(3), the Council shall review the
financial reference amount referred to in Article 4(1) as regards the amount deemed necessary to meet requests by
civilian CSDP missions, for items of equipment and assets in addition to the quantity of items stored in the strategic
stock, in order to ensure that the financial reference amount takes due account of the evolving needs of such
missions. The review shall also take into account the evolving needs of other operational action of the Union and of
EUSRs.
Article 7
Entry into force and expiry
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. It shall expire 36 months after the date of conclusion of
the agreement referred to in Article 4(3), unless the Council decides to extend it for a further period of 12 months.27.4.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 108/25
Article 8
Repeal
Decision 2012/698/CFSP is hereby repealed.
Done at Brussels, 26 April 2018.
For the Council
The President
E. ZAHARIEVAL 108/26 EN Official Journal of the European Union 27.4.2018
ANNEX
KEY EQUIPMENT AND ASSETS TO BE PROVIDED BY THE WAREHOUSE CAPABILITY OPERATOR
The strategic stock comprises the key equipment and assets needed to deploy a civilian CSDP mission of up to 200 staff
to any area of operation within 30 days.
The key equipment and assets are as follows:
— Vehicles
— Sport utility vehicle (‘SUV’)
— Compact SUV
— Minibus
— Heavy-duty 4×4
— Sedan / station wagon
— IT equipment
— Servers
— Firewalls
— Desktops
— Laptops
— Monitors
— Printers, toner and drums
— Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
— Wi-Fi access points
— Computer, server and network accessories
— Communications equipment
— Satellite phones
— Very-high-frequency (VHF) radios
— Global Positioning System (GPS) devices
— Mobile phones
— Video teleconferencing (VTC) systems
— Personal protection equipment (PPE)
— Flak jackets
— Helmets
— Accessories
— Medical equipment
— Trauma kits (bags with crucial items to help control trauma injuries)
— Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs)
— Visibility items
— Flags
— Personal visibility items (berets, armlets, visibility vests, etc.)
— Vehicle stickers27.4.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 108/27
— Miscellaneous
— ID-card printing machine (printer for personal identification cards)
— Barcoding equipment (barcode reader and printer of labels with barcode)
SUPPORT SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE WAREHOUSE CAPABILITY OPERATOR
— Procurement
The warehouse capability operator will procure the strategic stock on its own behalf using its own procurement
rules.
— Storage, codification and barcoding of the strategic stock
— Freight forwarding
The warehouse capability operator will prepare the stored equipment for shipment.
The warehouse capability operator will be responsible for ensuring/contracting the shipping of equipment as follows:
— from the central warehouse to the CSDP mission
— from the CSDP mission to the central warehouse
— between CSDP missions
— from and to the suppliers
— Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system
The warehouse capability operator will provide an ERP system with appropriate backup systems to ensure continuity
of related activities/processes and will provide maintenance for the ERP system. The warehouse capability operator
will provide services related to the configuration, customisation and updating of the ERP system. The warehouse
capability operator will also manage all licences needed for the use of the ERP system.
— Technical maintenance and repair of new and used equipment
The warehouse capability operator will provide technical maintenance and run operational tests for both used and
new equipment stored in the warehouse. The warehouse capability operator will also ensure that used equipment is
repaired if instructed to do so by the Contracting Authority.
— Refurbishment of armoured vehicles
The warehouse capability operator is expected to provide servicing, refurbishment and (re-)certification for armoured
vehicles, if tasked with doing so by the Contracting Authority.
— Disposal services
The warehouse capability operator will provide services related to the disposal of hazardous material (hazmat), such
as batteries, vehicle lubricants, ammunition, armoured vehicles and radio equipment, that for various reasons
(security, environmental, etc.) cannot be provided locally by the Mission. The warehouse capability operator will also
dispose of strategic stock equipment that has become uneconomical to repair.
— Pharmaceuticals and medical consumables
The warehouse capability operator will ensure supplies of pharmaceuticals and medical consumables directly from
the supplier to the authorised medical staff of the CSDP mission.