Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1080/2000 of 22 May 2000 on support for the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (OHR) and the Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe (SP)^f1, and in particular Article 1a thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

On 10 June 1999 the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union and the Commission of the European Communities, together with the other participants in the Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe, agreed to establish a Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe, hereinafter called the ‘Stability Pact’.

Article 1a of Regulation (EC) No 1080/2000 provides for the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact to be appointed on an annual basis.

It is necessary to establish, together with the appointment, a mandate for the Special Coordinator. The mandate laid down in Council Decision 2006/921/EC of 11 December 2006 on the appointment of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe^f2 for 2006 is appropriate. Further to the conclusions of the Stability Pact’s Regional Table held in Zagreb on 10 May 2007, the south-east European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Ministerial and Summit meetings held on 10 and 11 May 2007, as well as the Council Conclusions of May 2007 calling upon the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact, the new Secretary-General and the Bulgarian SEECP Chairmanship in Office to ensure a smooth and timely final hand-over from the Stability Pact to the new structures, this mandate includes a special emphasis on the requirements of the transition to regional ownership and the need to ensure a smooth and timely hand-over to the Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) until the end of the mandate.

It is appropriate to lay down clear lines of responsibility as well as guidance on coordination and reporting,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: