COUNCIL DECISION
of 14 July 2014
extending the validity of Decision 2011/492/EU and suspending the application of its appropriate measures
(2014/467/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (1) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’), as last amended in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 22 June 2010 (2), and in particular Article 96 thereof,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement (3), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
By Council Decision 2011/492/EU (4), consultations with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau under Article 96 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement were concluded and appropriate measures, as specified in the Annex to that Decision, were taken.
(2)
By Council Decision 2013/385/EU (5), Decision 2011/492/EU was amended to extend the period of application of the appropriate measures by one year, until 19 July 2014.
(3)
The essential elements cited in Article 9 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement continue to be violated and the current conditions in Guinea-Bissau do not ensure respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. It is therefore appropriate to extend the validity of Decision 2011/492/EU for a period of one year.
(4)
However, taking into consideration the holding of peaceful, free and credible elections on 13 April 2014 and 18 May 2014, which represent a major step towards more democracy and stability, and in order to engage with and provide direct support to the democratically elected authorities in their efforts to consolidate the democratic institutions, reconcile the society and promote the socioeconomic development of Guinea Bissau, the appropriate measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/492/EU should be suspended.
(5)
This Decision should be reviewed six months after its entry into force.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The validity of Decision 2011/492/EU and of its appropriate measures is hereby extended until 19 July 2015. However, the application of the appropriate measures is hereby suspended.
The appropriate measures shall be kept under constant review and shall be applied again should the situation in Guinea Bissau seriously deteriorate. Such measures shall, in any event, be reviewed six months after the entry into force of this Decision.
Article 2
The letter in the Annex to this Decision shall be sent to the authorities of Guinea-Bissau.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 14 July 2014.