afrol News, 15 September - The European Council has adopted a joint action on the EU mission to provide advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Joint Action renews EUSEC RD Congo's mission statement and under the new Joint Action, the EUSEC RD Congo Mission is designed to assist the Congolese authorities in setting up a defence apparatus capable of guaranteeing the security of the Congolese people, while respecting democratic standards, human rights and the rule of law, as well as the principles of good governance and transparency.

In particular, the mission will also contribute, in close coordination with international partners, to creating conditions to facilitate the implementation of the guidelines adopted by the Congolese authorities in the revised plan for reform of the Armed forces of DR Congo (FARDC) approved by the DRC President at the end of May 2009.

The Joint Action will cover a period of one year, from 1 October 2009 until 30 September 2010, with about 10,9 million euros budgeted for thw whole mission.

The European Union has been conducting the EUSEC RD Congo mission since June 2005. The mission, currently composed of some 60 personnel headed by General Jean-Paul Michel, has been instrumental in the implementation of several key projects such as the "chain of payments" project and the biometric census of the troops in the DRC's armed forces.

The EU has consistently supported security sector reform in the DRC, as one of the elements of a more general EU commitment to supporting development and democracy in the African Great Lakes Region.