Didiers Reynders

shared responsibility for a number of unanimous Council decisions, including the below. Note: Pursuant to Articles 31 and 42(4) of the TEU, the Council decision launching operation Sophia and all subsequent decisions renewing its mandate required unanimity, meaning that all Foreign Affairs ministers not only agreed, but did so even though they had a de facto veto power over the decision. (See: Council of the EU report: The Council of the EU and Operation Sophia)

• COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2015/788 of 18 May 2015, which adopted the formal decision to launch EUNAVFOR MED and gave the Political and Security Committee compentence to exert political control over the operation

• COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2015/972 of 22 June 2015, which set the EUNAVFOR MED launch date as June 22, 2015

• COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2016/993 of 20 June 2016 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA): decision to extend the mandate of Sophia to include capacity building and training of LYCG.

• 25 July 2017 : COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2017/1385 of 25 July 2017 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA): set Sophia’s budget and extended its mandate until 31 December 2018.

• 21 December 2018 : COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/2055 of 21 December 2018 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA): extended Sophia’s Mandate until 31 March 2019

• 29 March 2019: COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2019/535 of 29 March 2019 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/778 on a European Union military operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA): extended Sophia’s mandate until September 30, 2019.