Brussels, 26/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 24 June, the Council of the EU adopted a decision on the rules and procedures for the implementation of the solidarity clause (Article 222 TFEU). The solidarity clause provides for the Union and its member states to act jointly in assisting another member state subject to a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster.
Invoking the solidarity clause is a prerogative of the member state affected. While relying on existing instruments and structures, the newly adopted decision provides for close cooperation of all relevant actors at member state and EU levels, who will work hand in hand for a rapid, effective and coherent response.
The Union will mobilise all the instruments at its disposal. The Commission and the high representative of the EU, assisted by the European External Action Service (EEAS), will in particular identify all Union instruments and capabilities that can best contribute to the response to the crisis, and take all the necessary measures under their competence. The decision also provides for immediate activation of the integrated political crisis response arrangements (IPCR) - a mechanism approved by the Council in June 2013. This will allow the rapid involvement of the political authorities across the EU so that the Council can ensure the strategic direction of the response and take appropriate action to the benefit of the member state affected.
What the Treaty says. Article 222 of the Treaty states that the Union and its member states shall act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a member state is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. The Union shall mobilise all the instruments at its disposal, including the military resources made available by the member states, to: (a) prevent the terrorist threat in the territory of the member states; - protect democratic institutions and the civilian population from any terrorist attack; - assist a member state in its territory, at the request of its political authorities, in the event of a terrorist attack; (b) assist a member state in its territory, at the request of its political authorities, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
Should a member state be the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster, the other member states shall assist it at the request of its political authorities. To that end, the member states shall coordinate between themselves in the Council.
The arrangements for the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause shall be defined by a decision adopted by the Council acting on a joint proposal by the Commission and the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy. When this decision has defence implications, the Council shall act in accordance with Article 31(1) of the Treaty on European Union (decisions taken by unanimity). The European Parliament shall be informed. For the purposes of this paragraph and without prejudice to Article 240 (a committee composed of representatives from the member states to the EU is responsible for preparing the work of the Council and executing the mandates entrusted to it by the Council), the Council shall be assisted by the Political and Security Committee with the support of the structures developed in the context of the common security and defence policy and by the committee referred to in Article 71 (a permanent committee is established in the Council to ensure the promotion and strengthening, within the Council, of operational cooperation on internal security).
In order to enable the Union and its member states to take effective action, the European Council shall regularly assess the threats facing the Union. (LC)