COUNCIL DECISION
of 18 July 2011
amending the appropriate measures laid down by Decision 2009/618/EC concerning the conclusion of consultations with the Republic of Guinea under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement and repealing that Decision
(2011/465/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) and revised at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 22 June 2010 (2) (the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement), 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-EC Partnership Agreement (3), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Having regard to a proposal from the European Commission,
In agreement with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1)
The Republic of Guinea has made progress in implementing the undertakings set out in the letter in the Annex to Council Decision 2009/618/EC of 27 July 2009 concerning the conclusion of consultations with the Republic of Guinea under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement (4). Fulfilment of those undertakings is a condition for the lifting of the related measures.
(2)
The Republic of Guinea has made progress in the transition to the return to constitutional rule and the establishment of democracy in particular with the inauguration of a president, following free and transparent presidential elections, and a civil government.
(3)
The holding of presidential elections and the appointment of the new president constitute the partial achievement of the last milestone established in the Annex to the letter annexed to Decision 2009/618/EC.
(4)
The fourth and last milestone marking the end of the transition will not be achieved by 27 July 2011, the date of expiry of Decision 2009/618/EC.
(5)
In the light of the progress made in the return to constitutional rule, the appropriate measures should therefore be updated to take account of the progress achieved and Decision 2009/618/EC should be repealed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The appropriate measures provided for under Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement are specified in the letter in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
Decision 2009/618/EC is hereby repealed.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
It shall expire on 19 July 2012.
It shall be reviewed, if necessary, after an indicative period of 6 months in the light of the conclusions of an on-the-spot mission of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 18 July 2011.