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Council Decision of 31 March 2011 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (2011/292/EU)

EU Decision 2011/292 · Adopted 31 March 2011 · Extends to United Kingdom

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise this item, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Council Decision

of 31 March 2011

on the security rules for protecting EU classified information

(2011/292/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 240(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2009/937/EU of 1 December 2009 adopting the Council’s Rules of Proceduref1, and in particular Article 24 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

In order to develop Council activities in all areas which require handling classified information, it is appropriate to establish a comprehensive security system for protecting classified information covering the Council, its General Secretariat and the Member States.

(2)

This Decision should apply where the Council, its preparatory bodies and the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) handle EU classified information (EUCI).

(3)

In accordance with national laws and regulations and to the extent required for the functioning of the Council, the Member States should respect this Decision where their competent authorities, personnel or contractors handle EUCI, in order that each may be assured that an equivalent level of protection is afforded to EUCI.

(4)

The Council and the Commission are committed to applying equivalent security standards for protecting EUCI.

(5)

The Council underlines the importance of associating, where appropriate, the European Parliament and other EU institutions, agencies, bodies or offices with the principles, standards and rules for protecting classified information which are necessary in order to protect the interests of the Union and its Member States.

(6)

EU agencies and bodies established under Title V, Chapter 2, of the Treaty on European Union, Europol and Eurojust apply, in the context of their internal organisation, the basic principles and minimum standards laid down in this Decision for protecting EUCI, as provided for in their respective founding acts.

(7)

Crisis management operations established under Title V, Chapter 2, of the TEU and their personnel apply the security rules adopted by the Council for protecting EUCI.

(8)

EU Special Representatives and the members of their teams apply the security rules adopted by the Council for protecting EUCI.

(9)

This Decision is taken without prejudice to Articles 15 and 16 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and to instruments implementing them.

(10)

This Decision is taken without prejudice to existing practices in Member States with regard to informing their national Parliaments about the activities of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

OJ L 325, 11.12.2009, p. 35.

Contents

  1. 1Purpose, scope and definitions
  2. 2Definition of EUCI, security classifications and markings
  3. 3Classification management
  4. 4Protection of classified information
  5. 5Security risk management
  6. 6Implementation of this Decision
  7. 7Personnel security
  8. 8Physical security
  9. 9Management of classified information
  10. 10Protection of EUCI handled in communication and information systems
  11. 11Industrial security
  12. 12Exchange of classified information with third States and international organisations
  13. 13Breaches of security and compromise of EUCI
  14. 14Responsibility for implementation
  15. 15The organisation of security in the Council
  16. 16Security Committee
  17. 17Replacement of previous decision
  18. 18Entry into force
  19. Signature
  20. Annex ES
  21. ANNEX I
  22. ANNEX II
  23. ANNEX III
  24. ANNEX IV
  25. ANNEX V
  26. ANNEX VI
  27. ANNEX IPERSONNEL SECURITY
  28. ANNEX IIPHYSICAL SECURITY
  29. ANNEX IIIMANAGEMENT OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
  30. ANNEX IVPROTECTION OF EUCI HANDLED IN CIS
  31. ANNEX VINDUSTRIAL SECURITY
  32. ANNEX VIEXCHANGE OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WITH THIRD STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
  33. Annex Appendices
  34. Appendix A
  35. Appendix B
  36. Appendix C
  37. Appendix D
  38. ADEFINITIONS
  39. BAppendix B
  40. CLIST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORITIES (NSAs)
  41. DAppendix D