Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1304 of 26 June 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 establishing a European Peace Facility

Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1304 of 26 June 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 establishing a European Peace Facility THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28(1), 41(2), 42(4) and 30(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with the support of the Commission, Whereas: (1) On 12 December 2022, the Council agreed that the overall financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility (the Facility) should be increased by EUR 2000 million (in 2018 prices) across the years between 2024 and 2027. The implementation of that increase is to respect the ceiling for payments agreed for 2023. The Council also acknowledged that the evolution of the international security environment could make further increases of the Facility’s overall financial ceiling necessary until 2027. Any further increase is to be decided by the Council acting unanimously and is to be laid down in an amendment to Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2015/528 (OJ L 102, 24.3.2021, p. 14). . The total overall increase of the Facility’s financial ceiling until 2027 is not to exceed EUR 5500 million (in 2018 prices). (2) In its conclusions of 15 December 2022, the European Council reiterated the global dimension of the Facility and welcomed the agreement in the Council on 12 December 2022 to ensure its financial sustainability. (3) On 13 March 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/577 Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/577 of 13 March 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 establishing a European Peace Facility (OJ L 75, 14.3.2023, p. 23). , amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/509. (4) On 20 March 2023, the Council agreed to consider a further increase of the overall financial ceiling of the Facility by EUR 3500 million (in 2018 prices). The implementation of that increase is to respect the global scope and predictability of the Facility and its long-term financing needs for assistance measures providing both lethal and non-lethal equipment and for Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations. In addition, the implementation of that increase is to respect the ceiling for payments agreed for 2023. Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 is amended as follows: (1) Article 2 is replaced by the following:

Article 2

1. The financial ceiling for the implementation of the Facility for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 12040000000 in current prices.
2. The breakdown of the financial ceiling per annum shall be as set out in Annex I.
3. The financial ceiling shall be used in a manner that preserves the global geographical scope of the Facility and the Union’s ability to prevent and swiftly respond to crises and conflicts, primarily but not exclusively in areas that display the most urgent and critical security threats for the Union following, pursuant to Article 9(1), the strategic priorities set by the European Council and the Council. The Facility Committee referred to in Article 11 shall decide on the use of the financial ceiling by defining the overall amounts intended for assistance measures and the overall amounts intended for operations funded under the Facility, in order to ensure its financial sustainability. The Facility Committee shall revise those overall amounts as necessary in accordance with the strategic orientation provided by the Political and Security Committee (PSC) pursuant to Article 9(2).

; (2) in Article 73, the following paragraph is added: 10. The Committee shall decide on the use of the financial ceiling pursuant to Article 2(3) by 30 September 2023. ; (3) Annex I is replaced by the following: .

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Luxembourg, 26 June 2023. For the Council The President J. Borrell Fontelles

Annex

ANNEX I ANNUAL FINANCIAL CEILINGS The annual appropriations shall be authorised within the limits of the following amounts, without prejudice to Article 17(3) and (3a) and subject to Article 73(2): Current prices, in million euros 2021202220232024202520262027Current prices3995919802785238024252480