
Article 1 

1. The European Union (EU) is conducting a mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform (SSR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), hereinafter referred to as ‘EUSEC RD Congo’ or ‘the mission’, with the aim of assisting the Congolese authorities in setting up a defence apparatus capable of guaranteeing the security of the Congolese people, while respecting democratic standards, human rights and the rule of law, as well as the principles of good governance and transparency.
2. The mission shall operate in accordance with the mission statement set out in Article 2.
Article 2 
In order to consolidate EUSEC RD Congo's achievements and to prepare the transition to the FARDC once the common security and defence policy engagement is terminated, EUSEC RD Congo will:

— continue with the implementation and monitoring of the reform of the FARDC by maintaining the provision of strategic advice, including at the General Inspectorate, taking into account human rights and gender mainstreaming, whilst ensuring close coordination with the relevant actors for the transition process and handover of tasks,
— work with the military authorities towards sustainability of the military education system, focusing on schools for officers and non-commissioned officers, whilst preparing for the transition process and handover of tasks.
To achieve its objectives, EUSEC RD Congo shall operate in accordance with the parameters set out in the Crisis Management Concept and set out in the mission plan.
Article 3 

1. EUSEC RD Congo shall be structured in accordance with its planning documents.
2. The main deployment zone shall be Kinshasa. Seconded advisers might also be deployed in the military regions in the east of the DRC. Movements of experts and their temporary presence in the military regions might also prove necessary, on the instructions of the Head of Mission.
Article 4 
The Head of Mission shall draw up an implementation plan (OPLAN) for the mission, to be submitted for approval by the Council. He shall be assisted in this task by the departments under the authority of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).
Article 5 

1. The Head of Mission shall assume day-to-day management of the mission and shall be responsible for staff and disciplinary matters.
1a. The Head of Mission shall be the representative of the Mission. The Head of Mission may delegate management tasks in staff and financial matters to staff members of the Mission, under his/her overall responsibility.
2. All seconded staff shall remain under the full command of the national authorities of the sending State or the EU institution concerned. National authorities shall transfer operational control (OPCON) of their personnel to the Head of Mission.
3. The Head of Mission shall be responsible for disciplinary matters relating to staff. In the case of seconded staff, disciplinary action shall be exercised by the national authorities or EU institution concerned.
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6. The Head of Mission shall collaborate closely, in his area of competence, with the Head of the EU Delegation and the heads of Member States’ missions in Kinshasa.
Article 6 

1. Mission experts shall be seconded by Member States and by the EU institutions. Except for the Head of Mission, each Member State or institution shall bear the costs relating to the experts seconded, including travel expenses to and from the DRC, salaries, medical coverage and allowances other than daily allowances.
2. International civilian staff and local staff shall be recruited on a contractual basis by the mission as required.
3. All mission experts shall remain under the authority of the appropriate Member State or EU institution, and shall fulfil their duties and act in the interest of the mission. Both during and after the mission, mission experts shall exercise the greatest discretion with regard to all facts and information relating to the mission.
Article 7 

1. The mission shall have a unified chain of command.
2. The Head of Mission shall lead the mission and assume its day-to-day management.
3. The Head of Mission shall report to the HR.
Article 8 

1. Under the responsibility of the Council and the HR, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall exercise the political control and strategic direction of the mission. The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take the relevant decisions in accordance with Article 38(3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). This authorisation shall include the power to amend the implementation plan. It shall also include powers necessary to take decisions regarding the appointment of the Head of Mission. The power of decision with respect to the objectives and termination of the mission shall remain vested in the Council, assisted by the HR.
2. The PSC shall report to the Council at regular intervals.
3. The PSC shall receive reports by the Head of Mission at regular intervals, through the HR. The PSC may invite the Head of Mission to its meetings as appropriate.
Article 8a 
EUSEC RD Congo shall have the capacity to procure services and supplies, to enter into contracts and administrative arrangements, to employ staff, to hold bank accounts, to acquire and dispose of assets and to discharge its liabilities, and to be a party to legal proceedings, as required in order to implement this Decision.
Article 9 

1. The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mission for the period from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2011 shall be EUR 12 600 000.The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mission for the period from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012 shall be EUR 13 600 000.The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mission for the period from 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013 shall be EUR 11 000 000.The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mission for the period from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014 shall be EUR 8 455 000.The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mission for the period from 1 October 2014 to 30 June 2015 shall be EUR 4 600 000.The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mission for the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 shall be EUR 2 700 000.
2. All expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to the general budget of the Union. Participation of natural and legal persons in the award of procurement contracts by EUSEC RD Congo shall be open without limitations. Moreover, no rule of origin for the goods purchased by EUSEC RD Congo shall apply. Subject to the Commission's approval, the mission may conclude technical arrangements with Member States, the host State, participating third States and other international actors regarding the provision of equipment, services and premises to EUSEC RD Congo.
3. EUSEC RD Congo shall be responsible for the implementation of the mission's budget. For this purpose, EUSEC RD Congo shall sign an agreement with the Commission.
4. Without prejudice to the provisions on the status of EUSEC RD Congo and its personnel, EUSEC RD Congo shall be responsible for any claims and obligations arising from the implementation of the mandate starting from 1 October 2013, with the exception of any claims relating to serious misconduct by the Head of Mission, for which the Head of Mission shall bear the responsibility.
5. The implementation of the financial arrangements shall be without prejudice to the chain of command as provided for in Articles 5 and 7 and the operational requirements of EUSEC RD Congo, including compatibility of equipment and interoperability of its teams.
6. Expenditure shall be eligible as from the date of entry into force of this Decision.
Article 9a 
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Article 10 

1. Without prejudice to the decision-making autonomy of the EU and the single institutional framework, the Council authorises the PSC to invite third States to propose to contribute to the mission, provided that they bear the cost of the staff seconded by them, including salaries, all risks insurance cover, daily allowances and travel expenses to and from the DRC, and that they contribute to the running costs of the mission, as appropriate.
2. Third States contributing to the mission shall have the same rights and obligations in terms of day-to-day management of the mission as Member States.
3. The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take the relevant decisions on acceptance of the contributions proposed and to establish a Committee of Contributors.
4. Detailed arrangements regarding the participation of third States shall be covered by agreements concluded pursuant to Article 37 of the TEU and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and additional technical arrangements if necessary. Where the EU and a third State have concluded an agreement establishing a framework for the third State's participation in EU crisis-management operations, the provisions of that agreement shall apply in the context of the mission.
Article 11 

1. The HR shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision and shall also ensure that it is consistent with the EU's external action as a whole, including the EU's development programmes.
2. The Head of Mission shall assist the HR in implementing this Decision.
Article 12 

1. Arrangements for the coordination of the EU's activities in the DRC shall be established in Kinshasa as well as in Brussels.
2. Without prejudice to the chain of command, the Head of the EUSEC RD Congo mission and the Head of the EUPOL RD Congo mission shall coordinate their activities closely and shall seek synergies between the two missions, particularly as regards the horizontal aspects of SSR in the DRC, and as regards the sharing of functions between the two missions, particularly in relation to crosscutting areas.
3. The Head of Mission shall ensure that EUSEC RD Congo closely coordinates its activities in support of the reform of the FARDC with the Government of the DRC, the United Nations, via the MONUSCO mission, and the third States involved in the defence area of the SSR process in the DRC.
4. The Head of the EU Delegation in Kinshasa shall provide local political guidelines for the EUSEC RD Congo mission within the general framework defined by the planning documents.
5. The Head of the EU delegation and the Head of the EUSEC RD Congo mission shall establish the appropriate arrangements for information/consultation, particularly as regards the political aspects which may have an impact on the conduct of the mission. Likewise, the Head of the EUSEC RD Congo mission shall inform the Head of the EU delegation of all contacts at his level which may have a political impact.
6. The Head of the EUSEC RD Congo mission (or his representative) shall also act as defence adviser to the Head of the delegation, without prejudice to each player's existing chains of command. In that context, there shall be constant contact between the mission and the EU delegation.
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Article 13 

1. The HR shall be authorised to release to the third States associated with this Decision, as appropriate and in accordance with the needs of the mission, EU classified information and documents up to ‘CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL’ level generated for the purposes of the mission, in accordance with Council Decision 2013/488/EU.
2. The HR shall also be authorised to release to the UN, in accordance with the operational needs of the Mission, EU classified information and documents up to ‘RESTREINT UE / EU RESTRICTED’ level which are generated for the purposes of the Mission, in accordance with Decision 2011/292/EU. Arrangements between the HR and the competent authorities of UN shall be drawn up for this purpose.
3. In the event of a specific and immediate operational need, the HR shall also be authorised to release to the host State any EU classified information and documents up to ‘RESTREINT UE / EU RESTRICTED’ level which are generated for the purposes of the Mission, in accordance with Decision 2011/292/EU. Arrangements between the HR and the competent authorities of the host State shall be drawn up for this purpose.
4. The HR shall be authorised to release to the third States associated with this Decision any EU non-classified documents connected with the deliberations of the Council relating to the Mission and covered by the obligation of professional secrecy pursuant to Article 6(1) of the Council's Rules of Procedure.
5. The HR may delegate the powers referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4, as well as the ability to conclude the arrangements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 to persons placed under his/her authority and/or to the Head of Mission.
Article 14 

1. The status of mission staff, including where appropriate the privileges, immunities and any further guarantees necessary for the completion and smooth functioning of the mission, shall be agreed pursuant to Article 37 of the TEU and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 218(3) of the TFEU.
2. The State or EU institution having seconded a staff member shall be responsible for dealing with any complaints linked to the secondment, from or concerning the staff member. The State or EU institution in question shall be responsible for bringing any action against the person seconded.
3. The conditions of employment and the rights and obligations of international and local staff shall be laid down in the contracts to be concluded between EUSEC RD Congo and the staff member concerned.
Article 15 

1. The Head of Mission shall be responsible for the security of the EUSEC RD Congo mission.
2. The Head of Mission shall exercise this responsibility in accordance with EU directives on the security of staff deployed outside EU territory in an operational mission decided on pursuant to Title V, Chapter 2, of the TEU and related documents.
3. The Head of Mission shall be assisted by a Mission Security Officer (MSO) who shall report to him and shall also have a functional link with the European External Action Service (EEAS).
4. Appropriate training in security measures shall be provided for all staff, in accordance with the OPLAN. A reminder of security instructions shall be given regularly by the MSO.
Article 16 
On the basis of an evaluation report drafted by the departments under the authority of the HR halfway through the mission and presented in June 2011 at the latest, the PSC shall approve recommendations to the Council with a view to reviewing the progress of the reform of the FARDC and evaluating the impact of the mission on the implementation of specific measures to support the plan for reform of the FARDC. The evaluation shall be based, inter alia, on progress indicators and on specific operational indicators detailed in the OPLAN.
Article 17 
This Decision shall enter into force on 1 October 2010.
It shall apply until 30 June 2016.