Date: 2018-06-19Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/882 of 18 June 2018 concerning the temporary reception of certain Palestinians by Member States of the European Union and amending Common Position 2002/400/CFSP
**Policy Summary: Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/882**
This Council Decision, adopted on June 18, 2018, concerns the temporary reception of thirteen specific Palestinians by Member States of the European Union. It amends Common Position 2002/400/CFSP.
The decision extends the validity of national permits for entry and stay, granted under Article 3 of the Common Position, for an additional 24 months, starting from January 31, 2018. This extension applies to Member States listed in Article 2 of Common Position 2002/400/CFSP.
The amendment to Common Position 2002/400/CFSP clarifies that the decision pertains to the 13 Palestinians who were part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel, dated May 5, 2002, related to the peaceful evacuation of the Bethlehem Church of the Nativity. These Palestinians have agreed to be temporarily transferred to and received by specific Member States.
The designated Member States responsible for the temporary reception, based exclusively on humanitarian grounds, are: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, and Portugal.
This Decision entered into force on June 18, 2018.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Council of the European Union: A body of the European Union composed of government ministers from each member state.
Palestinians: Refers to the group of 13 Palestinians mentioned in the document who were subject to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel.
Council Decision CFSP 2018/882: Council Decision concerning the temporary reception of certain Palestinians by Member States of the European Union, which is the main subject of the analyzed text.
Common Position 2002/400/CFSP: Council Common Position concerning the temporary reception by Member States of the European Union of certain Palestinians, which this decision amends.
Council Decision CFSP 2016/608: Council Decision which provided for an extension of the validity of the national permits of certain Palestinians.
Palestinian Authority: The interim self-government body established in 1994 to govern the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank, mentioned in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Palestinians.
Government of Israel: The governing body of the State of Israel, mentioned in relation to the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Palestinians.
L 155/8 EN Official Journal of the European Union 19.6.2018
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/882
of 18 June 2018
concerning the temporary reception of certain Palestinians by Member States of the European
Union and amending Common Position 2002/400/CFSP
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 and Article 31(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 18 April 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/608 (1), which provided for an extension of the
validity of the national permits of certain Palestinians for entry into, and stay in, the territory of the Member
States referred to in Common Position 2002/400/CFSP (2) for a further period of 24 months.
(2) The Republic of Cyprus should be added to the list of Member States referred to in Article 2 of Common
Position 2002/400/CFSP.
(3) On the basis of an evaluation of the application of Common Position 2002/400/CFSP, the Council considers that
the validity of those permits be extended for a further period of 24 months,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Member States referred to in Article 2 of Common Position 2002/400/CFSP shall extend the validity of national
permits for entry and stay granted pursuant to Article 3 of the Common Position for a further period of 24 months, as
from 31 January 2018.
Article 2
Common Position 2002/400/CFSP is amended as follows:
(1) Article 1 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 1
This Common Position concerns the 13 Palestinians belonging to the group of Palestinians in respect of which
a Memorandum of Understanding has been reached between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel
as of 5 May 2002 concerning the peaceful evacuation of the Bethlehem Church of the Nativity and who have agreed
to be transferred temporarily to, and be received by, Member States of the European Union.’;
(2) Article 2 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 2
The 13 Palestinians referred to in Article 1 shall be received on a temporary basis and exclusively on humanitarian
grounds by the following Member States: Belgium, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus and Portugal.’.
(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/608 of 18 April 2016 concerning the temporary reception by Member States of the European Union of
certain Palestinians (OJ L 104, 20.4.2016, p. 18).
(2) Council Common Position 2002/400/CFSP of 21 May 2002 concerning the temporary reception by Member States of the European
Union of certain Palestinians (OJ L 138, 28.5.2002, p. 33).19.6.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 155/9
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 18 June 2018.
For the Council
The President
R. PORODZANOV