EU Integrated Rule of Law mission for Iraq

The Council of the European Union adopted a Joint Action amending and extending Joint Action 2005/190/CFSP on the EU Integrated Rule of Law mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX) (9255/06).

The new Joint Action extends the mandate of the mission for a period of 4 months until 31 October 2006 (Joint Action 2005/190/CFSP expires on 30 June 2006), as the first phase of an 18-month extension agreed by the Council.

EUJUST LEX is designed to address the urgent needs in the Iraqi criminal justice system through providing training in the fields of management and criminal investigation to be given to senior officials and executive staff from the judiciary, the police and the penitentiary. The operational phase of the mission started on 1 July 2005.

Below: background on EU rule-of-law mission for Iraq


EU COUNCIL SECRETARIAT BACKGROUND NOTE


In July 2005, the EU launched an integrated rule-of-law mission for Iraq - "EUJUST LEX" following a decision by the EU Council on 21 February 2005. The mission falls under the scope of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

The mission consists of integrated training in the fields of management and criminal investigation for senior officials from the judiciary, the police and the penitentiary in order to promote an integrated criminal-justice system in Iraq.

The Mission is meeting its training objectives beyond expectations: almost 700 judges, investigating magistrates, senior police and penitentiary officers in senior management and investigating magistrates and senior police in criminal investigation have already participated in integrated training courses in 10 Member States. Training is carried out on the basis of a common curriculum.

Training activities take place in the EU and the mission has a liaison office in Baghdad. Depending on developments in the security conditions in Iraq and on the availability of appropriate infrastructure, the Council will be called upon to examine the possibility of training within Iraq. The arrangements for this mission, which complements the international efforts under way, are determined in consultation with the Iraqi authorities. A coordination element is active in Brussels.

On 12 June, welcoming the progress of the mission, the Council agreed to extend EUJUST LEX for a further period of 18 months, in response to Iraqi needs and requests and adopted a joint action covering the first four months of this extension. There will be additional learning activities and also work-experience secondments in the EU Member States. Mr Stephen White was appointed Head of the EUJUST LEX mission on 8 March 2005 and on 13 June 2006 his mandate was extended until the end of the Mission.

An amount of 10 million euro from the EU budget is intended to cover the common costs of the mission (until 31 October 2006). In addition, Member States contribute training courses and trainers.

The EU started planning the operation following consultations with the Iraqi interim authorities and on the basis of a report by a team of experts, as part of the implementation of the EU programme of action for Iraq presented in November 2004. Following the 21 February 2005 decision by Council to launch the mission, and after the subsequent planning phase, the operational phase of the mission started in July 2005.

| Top |

• EU Presidency Statement - Rule of law at the national and international levels (16/10/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - UN High-Level Meeting on Iraq (18/9/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iraq  (15/9/2006)
• EU Presidency Declaration - International Compact with Iraq  (1/8/2006)
• Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the EU on the formation of the government in Iraq  (22/5/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iraq (15/5/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions - Iraq (30/1/2006)