Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

On 21 March 2011, the Council welcomed the European Union Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel region (the ‘EU Sahel Strategy’), underlining that the Union has a longstanding interest in reducing insecurity and improving development in the Sahel region.

On 9 February 2015, the Council reiterated its commitment to supporting Mali's path towards development, peace, reconciliation and stability. Integral to this is that progress is made by the Government of Mali in terms of governance, democracy, rule of law, reform of the justice and security sectors and fight against impunity.

In February 2017, the Government of Mali adopted the ‘Plan de Sécurisation Intégrée des Régions du Centre’ (‘PSIRC’) in order to counter the growing insecurity and to re-establish the presence of the civilian administration in the Centre region (Mopti and Segou) of Mali.

On 26 June 2017, the Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed on the Concept note for a stabilisation action in Mopti and Segou implemented by an EU stabilisation team, under the auspices of the Union Delegation in Mali.

On 10 July 2017, Mali sent a letter to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR), inviting the Union to support the re-establishment of the civilian administration in the Centre region of Mali through the deployment of a stabilisation team,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: