Date: 2020-06-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/904 of 29 June 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 as regards the expiry date for support of OSCE activities relating to the reduction of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Georgia
**Summary:**
Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/904, adopted on June 29, 2020, amends Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 regarding the expiry date for EU support of OSCE activities related to the reduction of small arms, light weapons, and conventional ammunition in the Republic of North Macedonia and Georgia. The original decision, (CFSP) 2017/1424, provided for a 36-month implementation period following the signing of a financing agreement with the OSCE Secretariat on September 7, 2017, setting an initial expiration date of September 6, 2020.
Due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions, the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation requested a no-cost extension of six months. This amending decision extends the expiration date of Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 to March 6, 2021. The continuation of activities will not require additional financial resources until the new expiration date.
The amending decision also updates the title of Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 to: "Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 of 4 August 2017 in support of OSCE activities to reduce the risk of illicit trafficking and excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic of North Macedonia and in Georgia."
This decision entered into force on June 29, 2020.
Key Entities Referenced
Council Decision CFSP 2020/904: A Council Decision of the European Union amending Decision CFSP 2017/1424 regarding the expiry date for support of OSCE activities.
Council Decision CFSP 2017/1424: A Council Decision of the European Union providing support for OSCE activities relating to the reduction of small arms, light weapons, and conventional ammunition in North Macedonia and Georgia.
Treaty on European Union: The foundational treaty governing the European Union.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: The individual responsible for the EU's common foreign and security policy.
Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE: The secretariat of the OSCE, the implementing entity for Decision CFSP 2017/1424.
OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation: A forum within the OSCE that requested an extension of the implementation period of Decision CFSP 2017/1424.
Republic of North Macedonia: A country in Southeast Europe where OSCE activities related to small arms and ammunition reduction are supported.
Georgia: A country in the Caucasus region where OSCE activities related to small arms and ammunition reduction are supported.
L 207/34 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 30.6.2020
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2020/904
of 29 June 2020
amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 as regards the expiry date for support of OSCE activities
relating to the reduction of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic
of North Macedonia and in Georgia
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1) and 31(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 4 August 2017 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424(1), which provides for a 36‐month
implementation period from the date of conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3) of that
Decision, for the activities referred to in Article 1 thereof.
(2) The financing agreement with the Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
which is the implementing entity for Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424, was signed on 7 September 2017 and expires
on 6 September 2020.
(3) On 27 April 2020, the OSCE Forum for Security Co‐operation requested a no‐cost six‐month extension of the
implementation period of Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 until 6 March 2021, due to the COVID‐19 pandemic and
restrictions on international travel.
(4) The continuation of the activities referred to in Article 1 of Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 does not have any
implication as regards financial resources until 6 March 2021.
(5) Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 is amended as follows:
(1) the title is replaced by the following:
‘Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 of 4 August 2017 in support of OSCE activities to reduce the risk of illicit
trafficking and excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition in the Republic
of North Macedonia and in Georgia’;
(2) Article 5(2) is replaced by the following:
‘2. This Decision shall expire on 6 March 2021.’.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 29 June 2020.
For the Council
The President
A. METELKO-ZGOMBIĆ
(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1424 of 4 August 2017 in support of OSCE activities to reduce the risk of illicit trafficking and
excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition in the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia and Georgia (OJ L 204, 5.8.2017, p. 82).