Council Conclusions on ESDP

The Council approved the Presidency report on ESDP and decided to submit it to the European Council.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Council welcomed progress in preparing the ESDP operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina following SFOR. It noted that work has been set in train, on the basis of consideration and conclusions by the PSC, to develop the Joint Action and Initiating Military Directive, based on guidance in the General Concept, taking into account the Strategic Options and the EU Military Committee and CIVCOM advices, and political guidance by the PSC. Other preparatory steps will be taken, including in consultation with NATO, to ensure that the European Union will be in a position to begin operational planning for the EU military force based on the Berlin Plus arrangements and the EU's decisions, following a decision at the Istanbul Summit to terminate the SFOR operation later this year. The Bosnian authorities will be kept fully involved throughout this process.

ESDP Support in Africa

The Council noted that, in addition to and consistent with initiatives under the Peace Facility for Africa, activities within the framework of ESDP can give practical effect to the EU's commitment to peace and security in Africa, on the basis of African needs and taking full account of the principle of African ownership.

The Council noted that the PSC was examining proposals aimed at enabling the EU, through ESDP, to provide support to African organisations in the areas of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) and Security Sector Reform (SSR), which are central to post-conflict stabilisation efforts in Africa. The EU is also looking at ways in which ESDP might, taking into account the work of the UN, enable it to provide practical support to the African Union and sub-regional organisations as they develop their conflict prevention tools and peacekeeping capacities. Due account should also be taken of the G8 initiative on Africa.

The Council welcomed the significant work undertaken during the Irish Presidency. It invited the incoming Presidency and relevant EU bodies to take forward further practical work in this area, in close consultation with African organisations and taking full account of other related initiatives.

Rule of Law Mission to Georgia in the context of ESDP

The European Union remains committed to helping Georgia through the full range of EU instruments and policies, including ESDP. In line with the European Security Strategy, and recalling its conclusions of 26 January 2004, the Council announced the EU's readiness to launch, by mid July 2004, an EU Rule of Law Mission to Georgia in the context of ESDP. The mission is anticipated to last twelve months.

As requested by the Georgian government, the EU Rule of Law mission to Georgia will support the authorities in addressing urgent challenges in the judicial system, in particular the criminal justice system. Furthermore, the mission will assist in developing a co-ordinated overall Georgian approach to the legal reform process in full complementarity with current EU assistance, and in line with the mandate of EUSR Heikki Talvitie. It will also, as appropriate, coordinate with other relevant actors of the international community in the area of Rule of Law, including the OSCE, the Council of Europe and bilateral donors. The Council asks the relevant Council bodies to start, as soon as possible, work on the planning and setting up of the mission.

EU-UN relations: Co-operation in Military Crisis Management

The Council welcomed the work undertaken to date on identification of modalities under which the EU could provide military capabilities in support of the UN. This constitutes a significant step towards implementation of the Joint Declaration on EU-UN Co-operation in Crisis Management of 24 September 2003.

Agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments

Recalling the Conclusions of the European Council in Thessaloniki and the Council decision of November 2003, the Council reached political agreement on a Joint Action to establish an agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments - to be known as the European Defence Agency. The Council noted that this timely agreement should enable the Agency, acting in support of the CFSP and the ESDP, to begin functioning by the end of the year.

Rapid Response: Battlegroups Concept

The Council welcomed the progress in the work on the EU battle-group concept and noted the agreement by the EU Military Committee on a military battle-group concept.

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• Joint Declaration on UN-EU Co-operation in Crisis Management (24/9/2003)