3222nd FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting
Brussels, 18 february 2013
"1 . The EU supports the efforts of the international community to achieve stability and security in Mali, most notably Operation Serval and the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), and reaffirms its commitment to the fight against the threat of terrorism.
2 . The EU reiterates its full support for the implementation of the roadmap for transition in Mali.
To that end it urges the Malian authorities, in consultation with ECOWAS, to take steps to maintain the arrangements necessary to sustain the transition until free and transparent elections are held this year, and to ensure that the civilian government has definitive control over the armed forces. It reiterates its willingness to support the electoral process. The EU also calls on the Malian authorities to follow up their pledge, as laid down in the roadmap, to set up a National Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission. This will enable Mali's key players to take ownership of the results of the process of negotiation, including with all non-terrorist and non-criminal armed movements which agree unconditionally to respect the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali.
3 . The EU welcomes the meeting of the Support and Follow-Up Group in Brussels on 5 February 2013 on the situation in Mali. It is important for the international community to support the transition in Mali, particularly through regular meetings of the Group and through the resumption of the political dialogue between Mali and the EU under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement.
