JOINT ACTION of 10 June 1996 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning action by the Union to support the electoral process in Bosnia and Herzegovina (96/406/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 conclusions of the Madrid European Council meeting on 15 and 16 December 1995,

Having regard to the Council's conclusions of 13 May 1996,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

This joint action is directed towards European Union support for the activities carried out by the OSCE, pursuant to the Paris Peace Agreements, in respect of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is consistent with the framework defined by the OSCE for the preparation, supervision and monitoring of the electoral process.

The action represents a strengthening of the support already given by the European Union to OSCE activities through the ECMM (European Community Monitoring Mission), through the Community's own action and by the Member States on a national basis. The ECMM provides comprehensive assistance to the OSCE's mission for the priority objective represented by the electoral process.

Article 2

The support referred to in Article 1 shall take the form of the provision of a contingent of European Union supervisors in the context of supervision of the elections conducted under the aegis of the OSCE.

Article 3

1. In order to cover the costs involved in attaining the objectives of the joint action, a sum of ECU 3 million shall be charged to the general budget of the European Communities for 1996.

2. The European Union's supervisors shall participate for a period of four weeks, within the framework of the OSCE's mission, in supervising the whole electoral process. Their supervision activities shall be financed from the amount referred to in paragraph 1.

The costs incurred by the participation of the supervisors of the European Union (e.g. per diem, subsistence costs, distinguishing clothing, training costs, transport in the region and return travel costs to the areas concerned, as well as insurance costs) shall be offset against that sum.

3. The expenditure financed from the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be managed in compliance with the Community's budgetary procedures and rules.

Article 4

The Council shall, if necessary, re-examine this joint action with a view to providing European Union support for the election-monitoring activities carried out under the aegis of the OSCE.

Article 5

The Council shall take stock of implementation of this joint action.

Article 6

This joint action shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

It shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Luxembourg, 10 June 1996.

For the Council

The President

L. DINI