Resolution on the reconstruction and democratisation of Mali

The EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions which may be summarised as follows:

• it welcomes the outcome and the conclusions of the high-level donor conference for development in Mali held on 15 May in Brussels in support of the Plan for the Sustainable Recovery of Mali. It calls on Mali and all international partners to implement their mutual commitments as part of an effective and coordinated follow-up to the conference and  emphasises that Mali is entirely responsible for implementing the Transition Roadmap;
• it reiterates its support for the preparation of a credible electoral process and its readiness to continue to provide technical and financial assistance for such a process, in close coordination with the United Nations, and the other parties involved on the ground. In that context, the Council supports the decision of the High Representative to deploy an election observation mission at the request of the transitional authorities;
• it recalls the importance it attaches to the protection of civilian populations, to the observance of human rights and to compliance with international humanitarian law. The fight against impunity and the full implementation of justice must constitute a fundamental element of reconciliation;
• it reiterates its support for the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission and encourages it to start work as soon as possible in order to ensure a national, inclusive dialogue open both to civilian representatives and to non-criminal and non-terrorist armed groups that have laid down their weapons;
• welcomes the crucial contribution made by the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to the full restoration of Mali's territorial integrity and supports its conversion into a United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) under United Nations Security Council resolution 2100 (2013);
• reiterates its readiness to discuss, in the context of the CSDP and other relevant instruments and in the light of the conclusions of the donors' conference, the options for urgent support for the Malian authorities in the area of internal security and justice in order to contribute to the lasting stabilisation of the whole country, in close collaboration with MINUSMA;
• it welcomes the progress made by the EUTM Mali military mission in providing advice and training to the Malian Armed Forces, including in the areas of human rights and international humanitarian law.